The League of Women Voters of San Francisco recently awarded five exceptional women at their annual “Women Who Could Be President” gala for 2010.
Anne Wilson, Pamela Joyner, Lynn Bunim, Yolanda Jackson, Kate Kendell
The five women honored at the reception, chaired by Chandra Friese and emceed by past honoree Cheryl Jennings of KGO-TV, were Lynn Bunim, Executive Director for External Affairs for AT&T and a civic leader; Yolanda Jackson, Deputy Executive Director and Diversity Director of the Bar Association of San Francisco; Pamela Joyner, Managing Partner and Founder of Avid Partners and renowned philanthropist; Kate Kendell, the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; and Anne Wilson, the first woman Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of the Bay Area.
Cheryl Jennings and Karen Clopton
“This award champions women working in all aspects of civic life who have the will, drive, and vision to create better communities,” said Karen Clopton, president of the League of Women Voters of San Francisco. “It’s about celebrating the unique wisdom and perspective that women bring to the debate.”
Yolanda Jackson, Karen Clopton and Kate Kendell
Funds raised by the gala reception benefitted the League’s voter education programs and other worthy services.
Dede Bunim Kramer, Leslie Bunim, Lynn Bunim and Alexander Bedder
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, multi-issue organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League’s members – women and men – want to make a difference in the political future of our communities
Ann Wilson and Beth Cobert
Anne Wilson is the first woman Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of the Bay Area. Under her leadership, the UWBA has transformed into a community-impact organization that brings together resources and people to address the Bay Area’s most pressing challenges. She earned her BS cum laude from Syracuse University and a Master’s in Social Welfare from the University of California, at Berkeley.
Pamela Joyner, Ken McNeely and Kate Kendell
Pamela Joyner is the Managing Partner and Founder of Avid Partners, LLC and has more than 25 years in the investment industry. She is a renowned philanthropist and civic leader and is a Trustee of the School of American Ballet, The McDowell Colony, the California Health Care Foundation, and the Making Waves Foundation. She earned her AB and an honorary masters degree from Dartmouth College and her MBA from Harvard University.
Kate Kendell leads the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a national legal organization committed to advancing the legal and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. She oversees coordination of program initiatives in such areas as family law, marriage equality, youth rights, and immigration/asylum. Some of her most rewarding responsibilities include fostering alliances among other community and advocacy organizations committed to social justice.
Lynn Bunim and Ken McNeely
Lynn Bunim, an Executive Director- External Affairs for AT&T, directs community and government relations activities in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. She is a civic and community leader, currently serving on the boards of the Jewish Community Federation and Communities of Opportunity under the Mayor’s Office of Community Investment. She chaired Jewish Vocational Services and the San Francisco Workforce Investment Board and was a founding trustee and board member for San Francisco Day School. Lynn is a graduate of the UC Berkeley and the Coro Fellows program.
Yolanda Jackson is an attorney and the Deputy Executive Director and Diversity Director of The Bar Association of San Francisco, where much of her focus is on increasing diversity within the legal profession. She is a trained mediator, arbitrator and facilitator. As an Adjunct Professor at law schools, she teaches negotiations and insurance law courses. She frequently facilitates discussions on bias and diversity and has served as a board member on numerous legal and professional committees throughout the country.
Kimberly Tierre and Melvin Thomas
Chandra Friese and Bob Friese
Stina Skewes-Cox and Patricia McGovern
Photos: Drew Altizer
Further Information: SFVotes.org
Tags: Alexander Bedder, Anne Wilson, beth Cobert, Bob Friese, Chandra Friese, Cheryl Jennings, Danielle Broude, Dede Bunim Kramer, Karen Clopton, Kate Kendell, Kimbelry Tierre, Leslie Bunim, Lynn Bunim, Melvin Thomas, Pamela Joyner, Patricia McGovern, Suki Kott, Yolanda Jackson

A selection of items from Diana Vreeland’s wardrobe will be auctioned by Kerry Taylor Auctions in London on June 25th, 2013.
Notable pieces include an Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture ensemble, with Lesage embroidery, designed specifically for Mrs. Vreeland by Saint Laurent himself in 1986. There’s also a wonderful Yves Saint Laurent velvet evening jacket, designed in 1981 (shown above), and a Mainbocher coat.

The 2013 showing of artMRKT in San Francisco opened to a staggering 6,000 guests in May, and had to turn away 500, raising approximately $30,000 for artMRKT beneficiary, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s New Acquisition Fund.
Following the presentation of the 2013 ArtCare Award for Excellence in Civic Arts Patronage awarded to Mrs. Diane B. Wilsey, on behalf of the San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Art Dealers Association, the Opening Night Preview Benefit provided guests with first access to the artwork, elegant catering (including specialty cocktails courtesy of Diageo), as well as a fantastic performance by the SF Jazz High School All-Stars Combo.
Among numerous Opening Night sales, Brian Gross Fine Art sold a major Robert Arneson self-portrait bronze for $200,000, and Alex Meyerovich Gallery reported the sale of a David Hockney lithograph for $65,000.
For more information, visit www.art-mrkt.com/sf

Jesse Draper has signed with 44 Blue Productions to take her online talk show, “The Valley Girl Show,” to television this fall and is developing a new business reality TV series called “What Women (Really) Want.” She recently shared her favorite Bay Area haunts with C Magazine’s Alyssa Fung.

In celebration of the U.S. premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, SF Ballet hosted a fundraising dinner on May 3, 2013, in a gorgeous tented pavilion masterfully designed by Riccardo Benavides in the Memorial Court between the War Memorial Opera House and the Veterans Building.
Inspired by the theme of the evening, many dressed in the most fanciful fairy tale gowns, while others went for a more modern look. Everyone looked absolutely lovely (not a wicked stepmother in sight!)
Here, with photos courtesy of Drew Altizer, we present our selection of the 25 most chic looks of the evening.

Rain Phoenix and Topaz Page Green recently hosted Unite SF Design at The Conservatory of Flowers.
The philanthropic runway show fused design, ingenuity, technology and philanthropy to raise awareness and funds to help feed children in the poorest areas abroad. The event proceeds will go to support The Lunchbox Fund, a non-profit agency founded by Topaz Page Green, Joaquin Phoenix and Balthazar Getty, dedicated to providing a daily meal to thousands of children.

Inspired by the Asian Art Museum’s spring exhibition, China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy, the museum’s Council recently presented “Once Upon a Time in Xi’an,” a lively evening event for families of all ages.
The event featured dancers, costumed performers, unique arts and crafts, and a sumptuous buffet bringing the fascinating world of China’s First Emperor and his world renowned army of terracotta soldiers to life.
The event chairs Alexandra Caban and Patrice Wilbur, with an event committee that included Midori Antebi, Alice Chang, Lucy Dathan, Christine DeSanze, Stacey Dobos, Marjory Graue, Elyn Kim, Michael Kim, Caroline Low, Linda Lynch, Kira Robb, Mona Shah, Elizabeth Warner, and Salle Yoo, created an amazingly fun and education experience for more than 600 guests!

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music held its annual gala on Saturday, April 20, 2013, in honor of legendary baritone Thomas Hampson. “An Evening of Voice Honoring Thomas Hampson” featured performances by Hampson, who shared the stage with Conservatory student singers and faculty. The most important fundraising and outreach event of the year, the gala took in $300,000 for the Conservatory’s educational programs.
Gala co-chairs Teresa Medearis and Trustee Barbara Walkowski pronounced the evening a “resounding success in every way” for the 250 guests in attendance. And the event’s co-chairs were suitably decked in regal attire for the occasion: Walkowski in a silk chiffon Carolina Herrera gown in vibrant red, and Medearis donned in emerald green taffeta by Monique Lhuillier. Trustee Deepa Pakianathan displayed her signature style in a black and white dress by Rubin Singer, one of Beyonce’s favorite designers.
Catering for the event was provided by McCall’s, Catering and Events and decor by Blueprint Studios. Wells Fargo was the official corporate Patron, with corporate sponsorships provided by Asset Management Company, Bank of America and CM Capital Advisors.

Osso Steakhouse (1177 California Street at Jones), a new venture from Jerry and Jennifer Dal Bozzo in partnership with Dante Serafini, recently celebrated its grand opening.
The restaurant offers a diverse a la carte menu featuring the highest quality of 4-6 week dry-aged tender prime beef with bone-in (osso) steaks, along with specialty offerings like Hot Iron Skillet Dungeness Crab. Great pride is taken in the extensive wine list.
The Dal Bozzos and Serafini are the same group behind other San Francisco favorites like The Franciscan Crab Restaurant, The Stinking Rose, Calzone’s Pizza Cucina, and the recently revamped The Old Clam House.
Osso Steakhouse is open everyday for dinner only, from 5-10pm. Valet Parking available for $10. 1177 California Street at Jones. 415-771-6776.

It was a “Mod, Mod World” on May 7th and 8th, 2013, at the Presidio’s Golden Gate Club as the Edgewood Fair raised $300,000 for the Edgewood Center for Families and Children!
Edgewood is the leading provider of behavioral and mental health services for 7,000 children and families living in some of the most violence-ravaged and economically-depressed areas of the Bay Area each year.
The event was put together by event chairs Kelly Anderson and Lori Shigekane, sponsorship chairs Susanna Holt and Courtney Giraudo, party chairs Sarah Semple and Amanda Valentino, luncheon chairs Mary Graf and Emilie Lynch, and Edgewood Marketplace chairs Amanda Rickel and Dina Wong To.

The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) honor Nancy and Steven Oliver at its annual Gala on May 7, 2013.
The Olivers are best known for the Oliver Ranch, an extraordinary sculpture park in Sonoma County, where they have worked closely with some of country’s finest artists, such as Bruce Nauman, Ellen Driscoll, Richard Serra, and Martin Puryear, on site-specific installations.
Co-chaired by Carla Crane and Wanda Kownacki, this year’s event featured performances and productions by artist and songwriter Terry Allen; artist, writer, and actress Jo Harvey Allen; visual artist and choreographer Joe Goode; and the esteemed Pacific Mozart Ensemble. Artist Ann Hamilton, whose extraordinary tower provides an other-worldly setting for music and dance performances on the Oliver Ranch, was a special guest.
The evening culminated in a live auction by Christie’s, which includesd one-of-a-kind works by Diane Arbus, John Baldessari, Sophie Calle, Rudolf de Crignis, Andy Goldsworthy, Ray Johnson, Richard Misrach, and Lee Mullican. The art auction chair was Robert Harshorn Shimshak.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support BAM/PFA’s education programs.

On April 25th, 2013, guests joined Sir Peter Michael of the Peter Michael Winery, and his son Paul Michael for a 4-course dinner prepared by Curtis Di Fede and Tyler Rodde, co-chef-owners of Oenotri, Napa. Each course was paired with an exclusive Peter Michael wine.
Proceeds from the highly successful evening and live auction benefit prostate cancer research at Stanford Cancer Center.
The USO-themed event was held at the privately owned Military Vehicle Technology Foundation in Portola Valley.












