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Recently, the Larkspur Children's Cottage Cooperative Preschool held its annual fundraiser at the Corte Madera Recreation Center with an auction to benefit the general fund of the school.

Marin Symphony welcomed guests including the Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, Mr. Yasumasa Nagamine, to the concert parties held in conjunction with the Screen Gems event. Pre-concert, there was a gourmet chocolate tasting with Leslie Harlib and sponsored by Valrhona chocolate, Prager Port and Wells Fargo.

Also recently, Kristen Harper and Marin native Danielle Bourhis, founder of Brown Eyed Girl, closed down Saks Fifth Avenue to celebrate the launch of their new lifestyle coaching firm WingWoman. With backgrounds in psychology and retail, the duo aims to mold and nurture their clients' personal style in all aspects of their life-not just their wardrobes.

At Fort Mason Center, Camp Okizu's "Fire and Ice: Art Inspiring Hope" fundraiser enjoyed a record turnout. The friendly bidding wars started early in the silent auction, where artwork included a 1912 Muir Woods photograph that went for $650. By the end of the night over $780,000 was raised, which means many children and family members affected by childhood cancer will be able to enjoy the camp in the Sierras this summer.

Also enjoying a record crowd was the "Celebrating Science and Soul" fundraiser held by the Institute for Health and Healing. The honorees included Dr. Deepak Chopra as a Pioneer in Integrative Medicine and Robert Tomasello, who received the Compassionate Caring Award. The fundraiser garnered $390,500 that will go toward establishing Institutes for Health and Healing in hospital and community programs.

At the Ritz-Carlton hotel, supporters of Sausalito's Bay Area Discovery Museum came out to support the museum's educational programs and exhibitions in the annual Discovery Forum, which raised almost $150,000.

In Strawberry, parents, alumni and teachers gathered for the seventh annual PTA auction night, where $100,000 was raised for Strawberry Point School's environmental education programs.

In Southern Marin, parents of some of the 200 players in Mill Valley Girls Softball helped out this past March to clean up the softball diamonds in preparation for the spring season. They weeded, replenished the infield dirt and painted dugout benches.

Also in Marin, fellow LEED students celebrated with Kitchens and More designer Rosemarie Halajian as she passed the green certification final exam.

Recently, Gump's CEO Marta Benson and curator Natasha Boas welcomed a packed house to the store"s newest exhibit, "Treasured Vessels: The Art of the Teapot," as part of a reenergized gallery program. On display were teapots designed by artists Alice Corning, Candace Kling and John Scott, among others.

In Union Square Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation celebrated local heroes as part of the citywide "Hearts in San Francisco" art installation. In addition several new heart artworks were sold, with proceeds going to support the foundation.

In wine country philanthropists came out to support the Bejeweled Angel Gala, a benefit for the Napa Valley Museum. Each year the Angel Gala has been the primary source of funding for the museum's educational programs, exhibitions and endowment.

Recently, Pat Kuleto unveiled his highly anticipated restaurants Epic Roasthouse and Waterbar at a grand opening party, which culminated in a waterfront fireworks display. Guests included Epic general manager Todd Caine, celebrity chef and co-owner Mark Franz and executive chef Parke Ulrich. The restaurants share 5,600 square feet of outdoor patio space and offer views of the waterfront, the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island and the city skyline.

Also in San Francisco, executive chef Travis Flood welcomed guests to the grand reopening of Moose's restaurant with a new decor and contemporary American cuisine.

In Sausalito, Complexion Clinics and medical director Stephen Ronan hosted an evening with actress Ali Landry to raise money for Operation Kids, which offers medical assistance to children in Guatemala.

In Mill Valley Mount St.-Joseph St. Elizabeth recently held its 11th annual benefit show, Luna Rubata. The original musical featured Cynthia Baggott, David Fleishhacker, Jock Hooper, Paul Pelosi and others. Mount St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth provides outpatient and residential drug treatment for women and early intervention for babies who have been prenatally exposed to drugs.

At One Market restaurant in San Francisco Michael Dellar, cofounder and president of the Lark Creek Restaurant Group, was on hand to present a star-shaped gingerbread cookie to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and recent wish recipient Aylin Febles to symbolize the $12,680 that has been raised by his restaurants' Gingerbread Wishes promotion.

This year marked the 30th annual Belvedere-Hawthorne Nursery Schools' Valentine's Day Kitchen Tour. Shuttles transported visitors to the five homes, which ranged from an eco-friendly to Cape Cod to a grand 5,500-square-foot Victorian. Marin chefs, including Angelo Servino, held cooking demonstrations and many of the tour-goers opted for the waterfront lunch at the San Francisco Yacht Club.

The Mill Valley Community Center was the place to be for WildCare's annual gala. The evening included a meeting with wildlife ambassadors like Valdimira the vulture, a gourmet dinner catered by Dan McCall and dancing to Swing Fever.

At the Fairmont, jazz supporters and philanthropists attended the second annual Sonoma Jazz Night. Host Anderson Pugash welcomed young supporters Kelly Cregg (daughter of Huey Lewis), Annie and Maggie Danielson (daughters of Benefit Cosmetics owner Jean Ford) and others. Sonoma Jazz is a four-day celebration of music, food and wine.

Gala chair and Marinite Jean Larette along with gala dinner chair Rosemary Baker welcomed the over 1,200 guests who attended the San Francisco Ballet's 75th anniversary opening-night diamond gala celebration, which included a black-tie cocktail reception and three dinners for grand benefactors, benefactors and patrons at city hall. After the performance by "America's oldest professional ballet company," guests were treated to a lavish party with hors d'oeuvres and dancing.

At the 12th annual Marin Valentine's Ball, which featured a silent auction and dancing, nearly $170,000 was raised and will be distributed to local agencies.

With 450 people in attendance, the International Center for Attitudinal Healing held a successful Fall Fantasia Gala at the Marin Civic Center, raising more than $100,000 for the organization.

At the Marin Country Club in Novato, Senior Access celebrated 35 years in business with an evening showcasing artwork up for auction created by Senior Access participants.

In Larkspur the Lark Theater hosted a Hawaiian cultural event celebrating the hula with a performance by Halau Hula Na Pua O Ka La'akea.

In San Geronimo, 128 golfers and Kiddo! supporters teed up for the third annual Kiddo! Golf Tournament, which raised a record-breaking $47,000 for long-term sustainable funding for arts, music and technology programs in the Mill Valley public schools.

The San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary hosted a cocktail reception honoring grand benefactors of the San Francisco Ballet's Opening Night Diamond Gala Celebration at the home of Dede Wilsey. Gala chair and Sausalito resident Jean Larette and Marinites Graham and Shay Kos were on hand to celebrate the evening.

And recently, Marinites like Bay Club president Jim Gerber and his wife, Linnea, made the trek over the bridge for Pamala and Ted Deikel's annual bash on Nob Hill, which brought philanthropic guests from Marin and San Francisco together for an evening of cocktails and conversation.

Blowtorch Inc. celebrated the opening of its Sausalito offices last January. The media entertainment company, led by Kelly Rodriques of Kentfield, has been named one of six companies to watch in 2008 by Fortune magazine.