Jun 17, 2007

Playhouse auction funds rebuilding projects

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

"Dreams Happen," the 18th biennial benefit for Rebuilding Together Peninsula, held at Stanford Shopping Center on June 2, was a sold-out success, raising $700,000 for the organization.

The event spotlighted custom-built playhouses that were auctioned off to help fund rehabilitation and improvement projects on homes and community facilities for low-income, elderly and disabled Peninsula residents. In 2006, Rebuilding Together and its 4,000 volunteers repaired 60 houses and 27 community facilities.

For the seventh year, Stanford Shopping Center partnered with the "dream teams" to host this outdoor event, which featured a custom-designed playhouse live auction, a buffet supper donated by the center's restaurants and late-night dancing to the music of the Cheeseballs.

"It was a huge team effort, but it seemed like pixie dust had been sprinkled on us; it exceeded our expectations for attendance, raffle ticket sales for the Emperor's playhouse by Varsity Builders and shopping spree at Stanford," gala co-chairwoman Rahela Abbas said.

The gala was the best ever, setting new records for attendance with more than 500 guests, along with 14 state-of-the-art playhouses, created by award-winning designers and builders, and across-the-board high bids that resulted in the event's surpassing its fundraising goal.

Architect Gary Ahern, who reprised his playhouse chairmanship for the third time, said the one-of-a-kind houses grow more elaborate every year, and are as intricate as many full-size homes.

Ahern agreed with Chris Galli, builder of the "Avalon" medieval English cottage, who said his participation in the project is a labor of love. Galli was pleased Erik and Stephanie Corrigan purchased the Tahoe Trading Post house (built by Bill Butler), knowing how much they would be enjoying it.

The night's bidding got very exciting, as one guest purchased three of the playhouses, including the Windy Hill Hideaway, built by Bob and Mike Nibbi, for the highest-bid price of $56,000.

Bob and Kelli Glazier were thrilled to win Barbara Butler's Wizard's Hideout, and event co-chairwoman Calla Griffith was all smiles when her husband, Will, made the winning bid on the Kingsbridge Hideout by Peterson Architects and Cody Brock Inc.

Seen viewing the houses on display throughout the center were builders of the Go'pher Gold Mine Co. house, Maryan and Steve Ackley and Brad and Joyce Smith, shopping center VIPs John Benvenuto and Julie Kelly, emcee Diane Dwyer of NBC Channel 11, board member David Wollenberg, and Rebuilding Together President Brian Heffernan and his wife Mary, who met at the event two years ago.

If you missed your chance to purchase a house, the Valle Monte League's annual Christmas Tree Elegance benefit will feature a playhouse, built by Trademark Builders, in its silent auction.



RANDY CROSS INVITATIONAL

The 23rd annual Randy Cross Invitational Golf and Tennis Tournament benefiting Ronald McDonald House at Stanford had it all: enthusiastic participants, loyal sponsors and great weather.

The tournament, on June 3 and 4, raised more than $400,000 for the House, which serves as a home away from home for families whose children are undergoing treatment for life-threatening illnesses at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

The two-day tournament attracted 259 golfers on two courses, 96 tennis players at Stanford's Taube Family Tennis Stadium and more than 400 guests to the awards presentation and reception, featuring silent and live auctions and a raffle drawing for fabulous prizes.

CBS sports analyst and former San Francisco 49er Randy Cross thanked volunteers and sponsors, many of whom have participated for more than 20 years, and welcomed first-time Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club sponsor Oracle/Hyperion, represented by Jon Kondo, and saluted Hitachi Data Systems, represented by Chris Worrall, for its second year of sponsorship at the Stanford Golf Course.

For the third year, Ferrari Maserati Silicon Valley was the presenting sponsor, and owner Art Zafiropoulo donated the raffle's grand prize, a Maserati Quattroporte sedan. Mike Montgomery, former coach of the Golden State Warriors, purchased the wining ticket.

Golf Tournament chair Derrick Diaz reprised his leadership role for the third year, with able assistance from Gregg Davis, Con Freeman and Bob Selig, whose remark, "Randy Cross, you're the main man," evoked enthusiastic applause.

Golf winners were Brad Lyman's group of Dan Francis, Phil Wente, Tony Zingle and Chase Lyman with a score of 55 on the Stanford course.

It was a big day for the Cross family. Cross' son Brendan won the longest drive and closest-to-the-pin trophies, and before making his presentation, Cross noted of his close association with the winner that, "This will look odd."

In addition, Cross' sister Bridgette Bisnette won closest-to-the-pin at Sharon Heights, and she made the winning bid on a week's stay in a Mauna Lani resort home on Hawaii's big island.

On the spur of the moment, Dave and Tom Amoroso donated a week's stay in a Florentine villa that included a guided tour of the city and dinners in several restaurants, which the Everett Lebherz family made the winning bid on.

Speaking on behalf of herself and co-chairwoman Hilary Somers, co-chair Karen Hirtzel said, "We had a lot of fun. The key element was bringing the tennis community together; it's about playing team tennis for a great cause. It's fulfilling to see an event make a difference in a short amount of time."

A team registered as individuals, the Counterpunchers - consisting of captain Bill Cole, Cynthia Zirpolo, Ed Nowiki, Paul Bradbury and Tommy Tranfaglia - won the tournament.

For the fourth year, the reception held at the remodeled House facility featured fabulous food from a mix of new and returning restaurants, including Left Bank, Evvia, Woodside Bakery, Il Fornaio, Greg St. Clair's Town, Nola and Milagros, San Francisco Soup Co. and Max's Opera Cafe.

Seen comparing scores and bidding on a wide range of silent auction items were loyal supporters Patty Sue Mozart, Charlotte Horton, Andy Chase, Joanne Lin, Twinkie Lyman, Kathy Francis, honorary chair Eric Brandenburg and his wife Kristy, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers Mike Nolan and his wife Kathy, and newcomer Stanford football coach Jim Harbaugh.

Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.