Mark Rhoades’ Annual VIP Pride Kickoff Celebration

On June 24, 2010, Mark Rhoades hosted his annual VIP Pride Kickoff Party. Presented by PG&E the celebration took place at the Clift Hotel Redwood Room and was a thank you to the men and women who give their time and resources to make the LGBT Community a better place. About 400 of the LGBT Community movers and shakers and their friends attended this year's festivities including PG&E's Brandon Hernandez who received a certificate of recognition from Mayor Newsom and the City & County of San Francisco for his great efforts.

Nick Gold, Christian Coupeo, Emilio Nazario	Jada Ogden, Leah Wade
Clinton Loftman, Keith Scott, Rosalina Lydster, Shana Burger	Andres Arevalo-Maklouf, Mark Rhoades, Ron Burg
Igor Josifov, Doyle Lauarias, Malcolm Baotonat
Brandt Hooker, Trent Norris, Joy Bianchi, Jack Calhoun,Claudia Ross
Tim Whalen, Haley Burrell, Tony Bravo	Nicki Bonfilio, Joy Bianchi & Mindy Ross
Christopher Bently, Amber Marie Bently, Nicole Ploss	Robert Fountain, Linda Gordon & Lino Cortina

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Kristi Yamaguchi's Dancing The Night Away Benefiting the Always Dream Foundation

On Saturday June 19th, 2010 ice skating Olympic gold medalist and Dancing With the Starts Season Six champion Kristi Yamaguchi hosted the 2nd annual star-studded event at the Hilton Union Square, San Francisco. The event benefitted the Always Dream Foundation and showcased an all-star cast of participants from television’s top-rated “Dancing With the Stars” prime time hit show. Founded in 1996 as a 501c (3), Non-Profit, Public Charity, Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation was established to support organizations that have a positive influence on children. Since its inception, the Always Dream Foundation’s primary focus is to support a diverse range of programs designed to inspire and embrace the hopes and dreams of children and adolescents. In attendance were Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Evan Lysacek, Natalie Coughlin, Chelsie Hightower, Jane Seymour, Anna Trebunskaya, Jonathan Roberts, Bay Area radio icons (and event emcees) Don Bleu and Renel Brooks-Moon.

Natalie Coughlin, Jane Seymour, Kristi Yamaguchi	Evan Lysacek, Cheryl Burke
Jonathan Roberts, Anna Trebunskaya	Bret Hedican, Kristi Yamaguchi
Peggy Fleming-Jenkins, Evan Lysacek, Brian Boitano, Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi	Jane Seymour, Jonathan Roberts
Margaret LiuCollins, Maggie Mui

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

SF Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson and Joshua Robison Celebrate the Symphony’s Upcoming Opening Night Gala

San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and Joshua Robison hosted a summer soiree at their home on Tuesday June 15, 2010.  Guests gathered to celebrate the San Francisco Symphony’s upcoming Opening Night Gala on Tuesday, September 7 featuring legendary soprano Jessye Norman.

Michael Tilson Thomas	Fred Levin, Barbara Brookins-Schneider, Jim Schneider
Tom Foutch, Milton Mosk	Athena Blackburn, Timothy Blackburn
Philip Raiser, Tom Horn	Tom Barrett, Belinda Berry
Margaret LiuCollins, Maggie Mui	Victoria Raiser, Philip Raiser
Tony Wagner, Leona Bridges, John Goldman	Lisa Grotts, Paula Carano

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

San Francisco Food Bank Annual “One Big Table”

On Thursday, June 3, 2010, the San Francisco Food Bank hosted its annual 'One Big Table' summer dinner and benefit auction at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. Event Chair Marilyn Cabak and nearly 200 guests enjoyed an elegant night on the San Francisco waterfront including a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the event will provide groceries for low-income families in San Francisco and Marin. The San Francisco Food Bank delivers food to 400+ "community partners," including neighborhood pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, youth programs, and domestic violence and homeless shelters, throughout the year reaching 23,500 households a week.

Jeffrey Vatt, Camille Vatt	Donna Ann Epstein, Mark Epstein
Dean Ornish, Anne Ornish	Michael Cohen, Lynn Cohen
Catherine Homsey, Jennifer Ratlift	Marilyn Cabak, Michael Cabak
Clyde Miller, Elize Brown	Bernice Welles, Jeff Braff
Tricia McCarthy, Bob Aune, Caroline Fizz	Claire Axelrad, Cynthia Frank
Gwynn August, Mitch August	Marilyn Cabak, Giselle McKeller
Robert Rodriguez, Heather Rodriguez	Joan Silver, Cynthia Schreuder
John Pitcairn, Pamela Rigg	Maria Pitcairn, John Capizzi

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

YMCA of San Francisco Honors Dean Henry and the Chinatown  YMCA

On Friday, June 4th at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the YMCA of San Francisco celebrated and honored the outstanding volunteers and community partners who share their time, energy and talent with the YMCA.

For the first time, the YMCA presented the Capital Campaign Achievement Award to Dean Henry and the Chinatown Capital Fundraising Committee for their outstanding accomplishment to raise the necessary funds to build the new Chinatown YMCA.

The Committee led the fundraising efforts and raised $12 million for the renovation project at 855 Sacramento Street for one simple reason-to give this and future generations a chance to swim, play ball, and learn about community spirit at the Y; to have a second home, a safe haven similar to what they had in the 1930s and ‘40s.

Alvina Korn, Leslie Truong	Jackie Siminitus, Vincent Siminitus
Ken Robinson, Gigi Carter	Al Stuebing, Daniel Hershkowitz
Jordana Better, John Gibbs	Lisa Moniz, Lauren Weston

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Chic Meets Geek Benefiting the Glide Foundation

On Thursday June 3rd, Chic Meets Geek hosted its 3rd event helping to bridge the social gap between the cultural chic and intellectual geeks, while raising money for a local charity. The 3rd event’s beneficiary was the Glide Foundation, a San Francisco-based non-profit started by the Glide Memorial United Methodist church, providing free meals, health, medical and housing services for those affected by poverty.

Some of the speakers from the June 3rd event were: Representing the “geeky” women Lily Kanter, CEO & Co-Founder of Serena & Lily and Victoria Ransom, CEO and Co-Founder of WildFire App. Representing the “chic” men Jay Nicolas Sario, Fashion Designer on Project Runway and Joel Goodrich, San Francisco Luxury Realtor and Philanthropist.

Connie Cheng, Lily Rodriguez	Charleston Pierce, Damian Matthews
Marisela Sookraj, Erwan Leroy	Lina Eguckinx, Olya Latina
Lauren Hayslett, Max Wesman, Jiajia Ye	Lydia Haile, Vlad Margulis
Ye-Hui Lu, Ryan Guzman	Chelsea Dickerson, Elisa Miller
Carol Tran, Joel Goodrich	Raffael Marty, Kate Benedictsson

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

The San Francisco Foundation’s Women Changing the World Luncheon

San Francisco Foundation donors connected with the power of philanthropy at the Women Changing the World luncheon on June 2nd. Donors, their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and sisters joined with San Francisco Foundation philanthropy experts, including Beth Brown, Vanitha Venugopal, and Denise Martin, in a conversation about women’s high-engagement philanthropy. From the art and science of giving to the intuition they rely on, they discussed impact and how to align passion, purpose, and philanthropy.

Dane Copeland, Jean Jarvis	Arcelia Hurtado, Sherry Simmons
Dagmar Dolby, JaMel Perkins	Lisa Erdberg, Susan Oberndorf

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Headlands' Center for the Art's Annual Benefit

Erin Lowenberg, Wendy Norris	Erin Lowenberg, Carolyn Ducato
Bettina Stiewe, Erin Lowenberg	Kevin Sullivan, Beth Sullivan
Heid Castelein, Ayl Ward	Guests
Patrick Barber, Melissa Barber	Ayl Ward, Brian Wilsey, Heidi Castelein
Dave Klaus, Alicia Freeman	Jocelyn Sandler, Sara Zilkha
Yiling Chang, Nellie Draganic	Stephanie Thill, Ann Wooster

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

Friends of the Earth’s Green Ball

This year Friends of the Earth, an environmental organization and network of grassroots groups in 77 countries dedicated to championing a more healthy and just world, held its signature event, the Green Ball, on Friday, May 21st at 1 Fort Mason in San Francisco.

Notable Bay Area television journalist Doug McConnell hosted this year’s event, joining Honorary Chairs Jayni & Chevy Chase and Co-Chairs Linda S. Gordon and Russell Long to honor several outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a profound commitment to environmental and humanitarian efforts. Surprise guest Robin Williams joined Chevy Chase on stage for an impromptu stand-up to the delight of guests. Friends of the Earth President, Erich Pica, who recently appeared on notable news programs such as NBC Nightly News, PBS NewsHour, and MSNBC’s The Dylan Ratigan Show and Countdown with Keith Olbermann, was also in attendance.

Awards were presented to Tom Hormel who received the Green Philanthropy Award for his longstanding commitment to environmental and humanitarian efforts, Zem Joaquin was honored with the Green Lifestyle Award for her commitment to green living and sustainable design, and 13 year old youth activist Aitan Grossman, received the Green Initiative Youth Award for writing the song “100 Generations” and starting the kidEarth project, which has become an international movement creating a united youth voice in the climate battle.
Guests enjoyed organic cuisine from Fork & Spoon productions, organic and biodynamic wines from Frey Vineyards, hand crafted ales from North Coast Brewing Company, and a signature cocktail from Blue Ice Organic Vodka while being entertained by Moonalice. In true Friends of the Earth form, the evening was free of plastic bottles, and most organic waste accumulated at the event was composted.
For more information visit www.foe.org

James Casier, Sarah Abramson	Karen Caldwell, Linda Gordon
Chevy Chase, Jayni Chase, Erich Pica	Elizabeth Cooper, Russell Long, Kim Zeller
Erich Pica, Linda Gordon	Megan Petrilla, Reyna Basta
Zem Joaquin, Hooman Khalili, Claudia Ross, Emilie Cowan	Linda Gordon, Ross Mirkarimi, Joy Bianchi
Jennifer Fick, Karen Tamblyn	Guests
Dan Vickrey, Linda Gordon	Karen Caldwell, Jean Larette
Myka Reinsh, Eirik Bintz	Bob Vickrey, Catherine Hall
Zem Joaquin, Joy Bianchi	Zem Joaquin, Aitan Grossman

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography