Our 15th Annual Gala brought new and old friends together and helped give 5,000 under-served school children access to our educational Whale Bus programs for FREE!
The Marine Mammal Center's 15th Annual Gala, presented by HP, and hosted by Twitter Co-founder Biz Stone and his wife Livia, was a huge success.
With glamorous guests, gorgeous food and fantastic fundraising, the event raised $60,000 for the Whale Bus - an offsite program that brings marine science to life at schools - and made $130,000 net to support all the vital areas of animal care and conservation work at the Center.
Held at the beautiful Ferry Building in San Francisco on October 14, 340 guests were greeted by Lidia the Seal (from our recent Washed Ashore exhibit), and enjoyed fine catering by Paula LeDuc, wine by Heitz, classical music by EOS Ensemble, dancing with DJ Jason Mitchell and a Silent Auction with donated artwork from talented volunteers and supporters of the Center.
VIP Reception guests were treated to a short talk by Dr. Frances Gulland, Senior Scientist at The Marine Mammal Center and Commissioner on the Marine Mammal Commission, who shared insights about her Marine Mammal Commission appointment. Angela Haseltine Pozzi, creator of Lidia the Seal and this summer's Washed Ashore: plastics, sea life & art exhibit at the Center, also shared plans for the exhibit's world tour.
Biz Stone along with former youth volunteer and animal doctor in training David Krucik, highlighted why education is the key to conservation, and Marine Science Instructer at the Center, Doreen Gurrola, brought the Fund-a-Need to life.
The more we raise, the more kids we reach!
If you want to help prevent future marine mammal disasters by educating the ambassadors of tomorrow, please support our Whale Bus Fund-a-Need. We aim to reach 20,000 kids with our Whale Bus Programs in the next 12 months, which includes giving 5,000 or more Bay Area kids in underserved schools the programs for FREE!
Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated and supported the 2011 Gala in any way - we couldn't have done it without you!
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support!
Humpback Whale
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Steller Sea Lion
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 Faye & Sandor Straus
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California Sea Lion
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Harbor Seal
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(Wine Donation)
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Susan Grau
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Betty Hasler
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Beth Inadomi
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Karen Johnson-McKewan
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Catherine Kruttschnitt
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Cinnie & Merrill Magowan
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Cecily Majerus
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Glen Mathison & Zoel Fages
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Mark & Sunny McKee
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Northern Elephant Seal
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Kate's Blossoms
(Flowers donation)
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Northern Fur Seal
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Music Solutions DJs
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(Silent Auction picture framing donation)
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EOS Ensemble
(String Quartet during VIP Reception - all time donated)
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Stan Jensen (Run100s.com)
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Chris Stone
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Beth Sullivan
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Dean & Jane Woodman |
| Special thanks to all of our donating Silent Auction artists: Richard and Judith Lang, Sarah Sulof and the Marin Jewelers Guild, Doug Ross, Christine Shields, Misuzu Toyama, Rebecca Jackrel, Marie DeStefanis and Jean Warren. |
Become a 2012 Sponsor!
If you're interested in getting involved in our 2012 gala or want to find out more about becoming a Corporate Partner, please contact Cheryl Reiss at reissc@tmmc.org / 415-754-4052. To review the 2011 Gala Sponsorship Pack, click here.
Gala Committee:
Karen Johnson-McKewan (Co-chair)
Betty Hasler (Co-chair)
Susan Grau
Kate Harle (staff)
Glen Mathison
Cheryl Reiss (staff)
Beth Sullivan
Jeffrey R. Boehm, DVM
Executive Director, The Marine Mammal Center
