Sep 2, 2007

Kara benefit celebrates funds in the sun

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Kara's Summer Celebration brought the beach to the Sofitel Hotel San Francisco Bay. More than 240 guests, dressed in resort casual clothes, enjoyed the fun of a vacation destination at the Redwood Shores venue.

The occasion was the sixth annual fundraiser for Kara, a Palo Alto-based grief support organization. The Aug. 19 event featured games, silent and live auctions, an award presentation and the premiere of a new video showcasing the work of Kara. The evening ended on a high note, with musical act Boyz Nite Out performing such favorites as "Just My Imagination" and "Joy to the World."

The sun-themed party raised a total of $125,000 for Kara's grief support services. Volunteers with the organization provide individual counseling for adults, support groups for all ages, educational programs and crisis intervention at schools and corporations.

The live auction raised a record-setting $19,000, and the Fund-a-Need project raised a total of $60,000 with the aid of a challenge grant.

One of the evening's highlights was a video featuring event attendees who experienced comfort and healing at Kara, including Cindy Jacobson and her children Andrew and Melanie, Peter Anning, and Rob and
Diana McDonald.

John Kriewall and Betsy Haehl were honored for their many years of generous support to Youth and Family
Services. Program director Liz Powell said the Youth and Family Services program has helped more than 2,000 people.

"Grief counseling is essential for survivors to live their lives better," said Kriewall, while accepting his award.

Kara is a hands-on group and 100 percent of its board members hosted sponsor tables at the event.
Guests included Woody DeMayo and Shelley Doran, Tina Meyers, Linda Keegan, Linda and Kent Kaiser, Betsy and Don MacDonald, Cathie Foster, Elsie Floriani and Ron Wendt, Sid Espinosa and his sister Tami, state Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, board president Chris Moser, and Jack and Judy Brigham. (Judy was one of the successful bidders on an opportunity for her and her pet to be photographed for the Gentry Magazine feature "Pets and Their People.")

Volunteer auctioneer Nuri Otus encouraged enthusiastic bidding. A ride in a restored MASH-style helicopter, donated by Powell and her pilot husband Jon Stark, was so popular it sold twice during auction. Trips on the "bird" were won by honoree Kriewall and James O'Brien. A private tour of Google's headquarters, hosted by Kara board member Othar Hansson, also sold twice. Stephanie Auliffe and O'Brien (who earned the title "Godfather of the auction") were the successful bidders. Decorations chairwoman Elisa Marie van Blerkset the scene with blue and yellow striped beach balls, umbrellas suspended from the ceiling, and tables and chairs draped in white and adorned with blue and yellow bows.

Gentry Magazine, Autodesk, Mid-Peninsula Bank and Private Bank of the Peninsula sponsored the event.

Tally Ho Preview Party
Polo and big-band Swing will headline the upcoming 57th annual Tally Ho, a Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary benefit for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The Sept. 8 daylong event, held at Atherton's Menlo Circus Club, will raise funds for families in need of financial aid for hospital expenses.

Funds raised for this year's special project will go toward the purchase of digital imaging workstations for the new Pediatric Cancer Center.

Tally Ho is the oldest charity event on the Peninsula, dating back to children's circuses of the 1920s.

According to Tally Ho director Louise Rockhold, the Menlo Polo Club will play a match on the Circus Club's polo field. Wine tasting with a master sommelier, silent and live auctions, dinner served poolside and entertainment by the Mike Vax Big Band will pick up where the famous "Pretty Woman" polo match left off.

With plans officially in place, it was time for a celebration. On Aug. 18, Jackie and Dave Holmkvist welcomed 75 auxiliary members and their husbands to a preview party in their Atherton garden.

Members of the provisional class, including Nancy Freihofer, Kira Feickand interior designer Valentina Cirasola (who donated for auction a one-hour consultation in the winner's home or in her showroom), generated a lot of buzz about the hot live auction items for Tally Ho. Topping the auction item list were three nights at the 2008 Masters Golf Tournament, a week's cruise with a choice of destination and deluxe accommodations on a Carnival ship, a week at the Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, Ariz., and reserved seats for a taping of the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Toasting the committee's efforts were auxiliary president Jean Coblentz, Robin and Tom Liston, Jean and Ted Lamb, Nadine and Bob Franceschini, Cheryl and John Benedict, and Alicia and Jim Seebold.

For reservations call 1-877-Tally-Ho.

Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA94301, or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com or call (650) 327-9090, ext. 334.