Mar 16, 2008

Golf Classic swings fundraising into high gear

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

The seventh annual Silicon Valley Golf Classic and Celebration, "Spring Fling American Style," presented by the Silicon Valley Branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was "absolutely bursting with energy, fun, enthusiasm, generosity and spirit," said fling co-founder Sarah Lucas.

Lucas and her husband, co-founder Don Lucas, said they were thrilled the event raised more than $680,000 for Type 1 juvenile diabetes research. The two started the benefit when their daughter Mary was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes nine years ago.

The sold-out March 7 fling continued its tradition of hosting activities from sunup to sundown. The day began with golf on the ocean course at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, followed by a luncheon, and ended with a glamorous evening bash (based on the '70s television show "Love American Style") featuring a cocktail reception hosted by Grey Goose Vodka, an auction, a fun American-themed dinner of hamburgers and apple pie and dancing to music of DJ Brian Thomas.

Dinner decorations featured a red, white and blue color scheme with large hearts and stars projected on the ballroom walls and gorgeous one-of-a-kind heart-shaped glass sculpture centerpieces. These collectors pieces, commissioned by local artist Rich Small, raised almost $10,000.

Enthusiastic supporters included foundation board chairman Tony Klein and his wife Sheryl, Jim Riley, Ken and Suzi Tinsley, Frank and Margaret Krasovec, Gil and Jenny Amoroso, Bruce and Lynn Felt, and Patty Sue Mozart and her daughter Ashley and sons Justin and Forrest.

"This event is among the best in the Bay Area," said emcee Raj Mathai, of NBC 11 News. "It's the spirit in this room - there's such passion."

Mathai and foundation board member Forrest Mozart shared emcee duties and had fun announcing the golf winners and awarding the raffle prize, a two-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton, to longtime supporter and event sponsor Sandy Monticelli.

Don Lucas' golf fivesome of David Schroeder, David Mauney, Russ Vandersluis and Bobby Poole were the tournament winners. Longest drive honors went to Marissa Kagle, for women, and Andrew Schenk won for the men.

Auctioneer Jeff Stokes set a fast pace during the auction. The big-ticket item was a Montana adventure for four at the Five Rivers Lodge, selling for $13,000. A weeklong vacation in a beachfront condo on Costa Azul Beach in Los Cabos was purchased by first-time attendee Kyle Timmins. A bachelor, Timmins and his buddy Joe McCarthy were looking for eligible women to invite for the week in the sun.

After seeing the "Fund-a-Cure" video featuring local children with Type 1 diabetes and their compelling stories, the crowd donated $265,000 toward diabetes research grants.
"Your participation makes a difference," Foundation Board President Tony Klein said, and added that more than $2.5 million has been raised to date.

Organizers Addie Bacon, Angie Robbiano, Karin Riley and Carmen Sofia Schroeder were seen having a wonderful time at the benefit.

"The people are the magic!" co-founder Sarah Lucas said. "(This event) is about our caring community coming together in a fun, celebratory way to make a difference."


"ATELIER D'ARTISTES" BENEFIT

Nationally acclaimed wildlife artist Laura Regan headlined a day of art-themed activities at the first Art in Action benefit "Atelier d'Artistes." About 230 guests attended the sold-out March 10 luncheon fundraiser at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club that featured live art demonstrations by six Bay Area artists, an art-themed silent auction and a boutique with handcrafted merchandise and art books from Kepler's.

Event chairwoman Dorothea Nawas and her 17-member committee, a group of friends and veteran fundraisers, recently formed a new auxiliary and produced the first Art in Action benefit in a record-setting six months. Nawas said it was so successful they are planning to present a sequel next year.

Regan, who works from her Woodside home studio, always wanted to have a career in art. In the beginning, she set her sights on graphic design, which she attributed to the work of '70s pop artist Peter Max.

In her illustrated talk, "Finding One's Voice," Regan explained how she gradually found her style. She combined an interest in animals and exotic fauna and created her first painting in the Henri Rousseau style.

Over the years, Regan says she has learned that "There is no perfect art. We're all struggling artists. No one has ever painted a perfect painting."

She recounted the painstaking process involved in illustrating books. For each picture, she creates 40 to 60 images, and it takes a year to produce the finished book. Regan collaborated with famous author Jane Yolen on "Welcome to the Green House" and with author Kay Winter on "Tiger Trail."

Regan thanked her parents for allowing her to pursue her dream and said, "'Art from the heart' means we all have art inside of us."

Regan hopes in 20 years the same Art in Action benefit will have a former Art in Action kid sharing his experience as a professional artist.

Art historian Judy Sleeth founded the Art in Action program 26 years ago. What started as a kindergarten project for her daughter's class at Laurel School in Menlo Park, is now a kindergarten through 8th-grade program serving 20,000 Bay Area children in 80 schools. The sequential programs designed in line with each year of the state's classroom curriculum, teach art appreciation, art history and art skills.

Committee member Barbara Glynn said, "The event sold itself. Everyone responded from personal experience."

Many of the guests' children had Art in Action programs in their schools and some women were former program docents. Participating artist Dinah Cross James, who will exhibit her oils and prints at the Stanford Faculty Club in September, was a docent, and Claudia Marshall, known for her portraits of children in pastels, helped start the Art in Action program at Woodside Elementary School.

Some of the guests included sponsor Mark Gallagher of Atherton Fine Arts Studio, Ann Griffiths, Geri Steinberg and committee members Pat Gregory, Nicole Patton, Rosie Garlock, Debbie Rosenberg and Lynn McGowin.

For information, call 650-566-8339 or visit www.artinaction.org.

E-mail Janet Duca Norton at society@paloaltodailynews.com.