May 19, 2008

Mothers delight in annual home, garden tour

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

The Los Altos History Museum's seventh annual Spring Home and Garden Tour showcased a unique selection of homes and gardens spanning a century of architecture and living. It has become a Mother's Day tradition, with more than 400 people turning out on May 10 to tour four distinctive homes and gardens. All proceeds benefited the museum's general fund,which supports professionally produced and locally curated exhibits.

For the sixth year, "A Premiere Evening" saluted the homeowners and featured a cocktail reception and tour of an additional home. Homeowners received pen-and-ink drawings of their houses created by Barbara Bell.

Homeowner Kelly Porter (whose wife Christina could not be in attendance) not only hosted the sold-out cocktail party in the gardens of his magnificent restored Stonebrook Court Tudor (formerly Morgan Manor and the prestigious Ford Country Day School), he also opened the entire house for docent-led tours for the 150 guests.

"(Stonebrook's) an extraordinary place. The key part of ownership of this house is stewardship. Our purpose was to prepare it for the next 100 years," said Porter, comparing his goals for his home to those of the museum, "which is also about stewardship of our community."

"We consider the 'Premiere Evening' a success, with so many people enjoying and supporting the Los Altos History Museum," tour co-chairwoman Diane Claypool said. "Of course, none of this would be possible without all of the dedicated museum volunteers," of which there were more than 100 on tour day.

Guests included Los Altos Mayor Val Carpenter, Linda and Jim Deyer, Jean and Art Carmichael, Linda and John Conover, Ed and Pamela Taft, George and Judy Hill, Lois and Bob Adams, History Museum Board President Kathy Lera and her husband Lee, Marie Backs, and Barbara Mordo and Los Altos Hills Mayor pro tem Jean Mordo.

Saturday tour homes offered a study in contrasts, which started with an 820-square-foot dollhouse-like cottage owned by Robin and Paul Bantz. There was definitely no clutter about here, but the office and partial basement "make it livable," Paul said.

Ike and Kris Gulesserian's gorgeous garden and expanded Carmel-themed ranch house, which has been home to two generations of their children, was the setting for refreshments on the Saturday tour. Guests also stopped to shop for treasures in the gardens of a newly expanded Tuscan estate owned by Lucia and Steve Steinhilber and visited Charles Centofante's French-themed farmhouse.

Once again Northern Trust sponsored the "Premiere Evening" along with Whole Foods.


CIRCLE OF SUPPORT BREAKFAST

The fifth annual Circle of Support Breakfast honored a pair of outstanding Mid-Peninsula women: Woodside philanthropist Susan Ford Dorsey and best-selling Palo Alto-based author/humorist Firoozeh Dumas. A record-setting 450 guests attended the May 8 benefit for the Family and Children Services Agency at the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Jim Welsh, the multifaceted nonprofit organization is celebrating its 60th year of strengthening individuals, families and communities.

Honoree Dorsey said she is most proud of the Sandhill Foundation that she co-founded in 1995 with her late husband Tom Ford. The foundation focuses on organizations that assist families and aid environmental causes. Dorsey's definition of philanthropy was illustrated by the phrase, "This isn't the life I expected."

"How we respond (to difficulty) defines humanity, and how organizations respond is community," she said.

Dorsey saluted Family and Children Services for supporting the community one person at a time. She quoted a recent immigrant father whose child is going to Menlo School on a scholarship, saying, "People we don't even know help my son to go to this school." Dorsey said the father is continually amazed by the philanthropy he sees.

Leading the applause was event co-chairwoman Marianne Palefsky, board members Barbara Glynn, Christine Curry and Tasneem Ismailji, and sponsors Krista Shen, Bill Friedman, Jaynie and Bill Kind, as well as Lynette Mandal, Jim Doty, Marianne Austin, Cheryl Nelson, and Heidi Kennedy, who donated her delicious frittata recipe for the occasion.

"The concept of shared humanity was the basis for 'Funny in Farsi,'" author Dumas said. The book humorously relates her early experiences growing up in California when she and her Iranian family were struggling to learn English and American customs. Dumas gave an autobiographical introduction, discussed the origins of her writing style, signed books and revealed a few stories behind her newest book, "Laughing Without an Accent: Building Bridges Through Humor."

In the course of her travels and lectures across the country, Dumas was pleased to find that her book had been adopted into the curricula of many schools to illustrate similarities between people.

Director of donor relations Lani Dorff said she was proud of the event's keynote speakers who touched on the mission of the Family and Children Services Agency so well.

Family and Children Services provides innovative health and human services to more than 8,000 individuals every year in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The agency offers counseling, education and prevention programs on many issues, including domestic violence, substance abuse, depression, child neglect, parenting and life skills.

"We were thrilled to have such strong community turnout in support of Family and Children Services," co-chairwoman Susan Friedman said. "Our fifth year firmly established this event as a must-attend fundraiser."

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