$8.5 million to help Tipping Point balance scales
Adidas sneaks were the must-have late-night accessory last week at Pier 48, where Tipping Point Community hosted its sixth Thanks-forGiving Benefit Dinner starring a rollicking romp by Run-D.M.C.
But the D.M.C.-style bling was actually supplied by 960 supporters who raised a record $8.5 million in support of this poverty-fighting organization’s 41 grantees.
While stocks and wealth are upswinging, Tipping founder-CEO Daniel Lurie knows it’s wrong that 1.3 million Bay Area residents struggle to meet basic needs such as food, shelter and child care.
“Over two years, homelessness is up 20 percent. Food stamp participation is at a 10-year high. Onethird of California’s lowincome Latino and African American students drop out of high school,” he declared, working the stage like a preacher saving souls. “If we truly want to claim the abundant optimism around us, we must create a better shot for everybody, because far too many of us are still struggling.”
The evening honored Abel Ramoz, who was reunited with his sons, Dillon and Eldon Ramoz, and their lives, with help from Tipping Point grantee InnVision Shelter Network.
And guests enjoyed a festive fete (co-chaired by TP board President Thomas Laffont and his wife, Liz; Christine and Pierre Lamond; Tony and Cori Bates; Alicia Engstrom and Hosain Rahman) featuring Rye Bar cocktails and chef Tyler Florence’s famous fried chicken, executed by caterer Paula LeDuc, which was served atop glorious green-and-white checked picnic-style tables created by designer Stanlee Gatti.
Among top tippers: 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick; Lurie’s wife, Becca Prowda, and mom, Mimi Haas; Attorney GeneralKamala Harris; Apple’s Sir Jony Ive and his wife, Heather; Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom; TP trustee Ronnie Lott and his wife, Karen; Mayor Ed Lee; Pam Baer and her husband, Giants CEO Larry Baer; Juliet de Baubigny; TP trustee Zachary Bogue and his wife, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer; philanthropist Doris Fisher; TP trustee Kate Harbin Clammer and her husband, Adam Clammer; Ifonly.com founder Trevor Traina; TP trustee Gina Peterson and her husband, Stuart Peterson; Roger and Sloan Barnett; Tolan Florence; Sabrina Buell and Yves Béhar; TP Leadership Council member and PlumpJack VP Jeremy Scherer; TP trustee Alec Perkins and his wife, Serena; Alka and Ravin Agrawal; Dr. Nadine Burke and her husband, Arno Harris; TP trustee Chris James and his wife, Bradley; Katie and Todd Traina; TP trustee Katie Schwab Paige and her husband, Matt Paige; and TP trustee 49er CEO Jed York and his wife, Danielle.
“We live in the whitehot center of diligence, innovation and problem solving. Yet at my first Tipping Point benefit, I was shocked to learn there was so much poverty in our own backyard,” said Skype founder and TP trustee Tony Bates. “Tipping Point is determined to fix that.”
Center stage: Artistic Director Tony Taccone may well be the creative visionary of Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
But during the Ovation Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel, Taccone struggled between Tony Awardwinning actress Rita Moreno and the event emcee, actor Danny Scheie, for his turn in the spotlight.
That’s because the theatrical force that is Moreno dramatically called the 400-strong crowd to order as they fell out of their chairs with laughter over Scheie, dressed as Moreno’s doppelganger.
“Tony Taccone is a pimp,” joked Scheie. “Because every time I get near him, he tries to shove me in a woman’s dress. Who does that?”
The festive fete, featuring a gourmet supper and lucrative live auction, raised $656K for Berkeley Rep’s School of Theatre and education programs that annually enrich the education of 20,000 students.
Among first-nighters: Ovation chairs Jill Fugaro and Jean Strunsky; Taccone’s spouse, Morgan Forsey; Berkeley Rep Managing Director Susie Medak and board President Marjorie Randolph; Michael Strunsky; sound wizards John and Helen Meyer; Lee and Narsai David; Joan and Bob Kroll; Richard Rubin and Marcia Smolens; and Darryl Carbonaro with his fiance, Cal Shakes Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone.
Taccone has worked at Berkeley Rep for 24 years, the last 16 of which he’s served as artistic director. But initially he thought he’d clock in at this nationally lauded theater for a mere two-year stint.
“But I derive meaning in life from building communities, from family and theater to Little League teams,” he said. “And tonight allows us to stay weird at Berkeley Rep and continue our passion for dreaming in public.”