Apr 9, 2007

Caped crusaders touch down at 'M-Factor'

Janet Duca Norton / Daily News

Menlo School's 57th annual benefit, "M-Factor ... The Power of M Revealed," was a fabulous, comic book fantasy brought to life that lived up to its billing as the most spectacular event of the year. The March 30 luncheon, fashion show, dinner and auction extravaganza will be remembered as the most successful benefit ever, with a super-sized crowd of 800 for lunch and dinner.

Event co-chairs Melissa Badger and Kim Glenn said, "The M Factor ... will life EVER be the same?!" The two worked with a team of 73 for a year to produce the combination fundraiser, community "friendraiser," and salute to 139 senior heroes, who all wore red capes as they walked the thunderbolt style catwalk. There were also at least 200 parent and student volunteers, including the junior class of Menlo School, who continued their tradition of serving lunch.

Guests were transported to a black-and-white futuristic cityscape, Menlo-opolis, via a New York subway style entrance. The comic book theme was executed with bright yellow, blue and red colored tables with theme centerpieces, which included a red telephone hotline, a laptop for Mission Impossible assignments and a Superman-style lighted world globe.

Part of the evening's fun were the drawings for jewelry and a grand prize Honda CR-V, which was donated by Anderson Honda. Diane Clausen, school development director, was thrilled when her name was called as the winner of the car. Head of School Norm Colb, dressed as James Bond, announced that the drawing had grossed $44,000.

"We cannot possibly thank our benefit committee 'Team of Incredibles' enough," Colb said on behalf of himself and Clausen. "They truly made our capes FLY ... and we are still soaring." The online auction continued through the end of the week, adding proceeds to the financial aid fund, including scholarships and the Full Opportunity Fund.

This was the 11th year that the fashion show partnered with Bloomingdale's at Stanford Shopping Center. Wearing 200 stylish outfits for all occasions, about 100 Menlo seniors and parents performed perfectly coordinated action hero sequences. And the show team of Alex Perez, Jan Chandler, Jeffrey Adair and BB Bernheim delivered flash and sizzle with student entertainment vignettes such as "The Riddler" and "The Matrix." Where else could you see Superman, James Bond, Spiderman and Wonder Woman parading on a thunderbolt runway?

Applauding the show were Vivienne and Mo Virani, Lynne and Perry Olson, Betsy and Don Dixon, John and Laura Foster, Marie Lehman, Lisa Mooring, and Tim Howard, board president of the Menlo School Association, and his wife Sally.

Sotheby's chief auctioneer Hugh Hildesley generated so much excitement that a graduation package sold twice for $13,000. Richard Steiny organized 40 dads who purchased a sports-trivia dinner party with a surprise sportscaster guest. Duncan Matteson made the winning bid on a dinner at San Francisco's Fleur de Lys with master chef and owner Hubert Keller. Tom and Stacey Siebel made the winning bid on the hottest item of the night: an opportunity to be on the set of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy."

Living up to superhero tradition, partygoers stayed late to dance to the music of H2H.