Marin Magazine - September 2007

In San Francisco's Mission neighborhood Gap founders Doris and Don Fisher were honored for their 43 years of service to the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco at the Opening Doors for Kids gala. The event raised $700,000, which will help the club to continue to provide high-quality programs, staff and facilities for youth.

In Mill Valley it was a sold-out event at the town community center for the second annual Summer Search North Bay luncheon. Almost $200,000 was raised for programs that will serve students in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. Summer Search inspires low-income high school students to become responsible and altruistic leaders by providing year-round mentoring, life-changing summer experiences, college advising and a lasting support network.

In Marin Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity (AHO) hosted its sixth community event to create awareness about youth homelessness. The art benefit and wine reception also included a sneak preview of the new documentary Youth Homelessness . . . A Growing Trend, which highlights youth homelessness in Marin County.

San Rafael's nonprofit art center Art Works Downtown held its third annual ArtRageous fundraiser. The bacchanalian-themed fete featured a performance by Sha Sha Higby, food by Jay Yinger, fire dancing and other delights.

In San Francisco Le Meridien hotel recently debuted an on-site art installation by Chris Johanson and Jo Jackson entitled Paradise Library. The exhibit is part of the hotel's Unlock Art program, which is designed to appeal to guests' cultural curiosity and provide them access to local contemporary art institutions. As part of the installation the artists have selected books that have inspired people throughout time. As with a traditional library, these books are offered to guests to enjoy at their leisure. Guests may also add books of their own to the collection for others to enjoy.

At the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael Dominican University of California and Book Passage sponsored a lecture by former Vice President Al Gore. Approximately 2,000 people attended the event, including Dominican president Joseph R. Fink and the ex-VP, who signed copies of his latest book The Assault on Reason.

In Mill Valley it was all about the little ones at the grand opening VIP party for new kids' boutique Honeys and Heroes. Owner Alanna Klein (who also owns Presidio Heights hot spot Pumpkin) was on hand to greet guests (and their children), who shopped for the latest must-haves from brands like Ella Moss and True Religion.

At the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge grown-ups were getting in on the fun at the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Play Date 2007. The colorful cocktail party included big-kid auction items like a seven-day siesta at a private playground on the sea of Cortez, a Costa Rican eco-adventure and an exhilarating ride in a Formula One race car.

Marin Theatre Company hosted "Forty Years on the Road with MTC" as a gala celebration to raise funds for the group's new roof. The group's live productions are a unique part of Mill Valley's artistic scene.

The Headlands Center for the Arts held a benefit art auction with guest auctioneer Durwood Zedd, getting the crowd excited to buy works from Dennis Adams, Lylah Ali, Ray Beldner and others. The night raised nearly $100,000, which will support the artist in residence programs.

At Merola's 50th Anniversary Gala, "Voices Heard 'Round the World," guests celebrated five decades of training future San Francisco Opera stars. The evening included a concert featuring Merola alumni, a seated dinner and post-dinner lounge made possible by gala cochairs Amii Barnard-Bahn and Patrick Wilken.

At the San Rafael Community Center, Beyond Hunger held its third annual Building a Community for Prevention fundraiser. Musical guests Susan Z, Shana Morrison and Jennifer Naegele entertained at the benefit concert, which raises funds for education programs to prevent eating disorders in Marin's schools.