S.F. ON FRONT LINES OF PHILANTHROPY
As the reigning arbiter of glitz and glam for the bold and beautiful, Town & Country magazine is also perfectly positioned to discuss much weightier issues with its well-heeled audience. So T&C editor-in-chief Stellene
Volandes recently visited the Left Coast to host this Hearst magazine’s inaugural Philanthropy Series in San Francisco. The New York summit, in its fourth year, is a full day while the San Francisco version, at the St. Regis Hotel Nov. 14, was a half day. Yet it was packed with local experts — including College Track’s Elissa Salas, Stanford University’s Rob Reich, Emerson Collective/XQ Institute’s
Russlynn Ali, and Tipping Point founder Daniel Lurie — who spoke on the future of education. Former T&C editor Jay Fielden (now Esquire editor in chief) helped launch the effort four years ago, which now coincides with T&C’s June issue that highlights the nation’s top 50 philanthropists.
“Like Town & Country, San Francisco is a city that prizes traditional values like philanthropy but also looks at ways to enhance its future,” said Volandes, of her satellite’s geographic choice. “San Francisco has a rich heritage, but it’s at the forefront of technology and forward-thinking. And we’re here to underscore those values.”
But prior to deep thinking, Volandes was honored by pal Denise Hale at a Boulevard lunch with such T&C types as Gorretti Lui, Fine Arts Museums curator Martin Chapman, Penny Coulter, Stanlee Gatti, Tatiana Sorokko, Allison Speer, Academy of Art President Elisa Stephens and Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Audrey Cooper.
“I think we all understand the importance of fixing our nation’s education system,” said Volandes, a former high school English teacher. “If that gets fixed, many other societal problems will also be fixed.” Play ball: When Supervisor Mark Farrell was growing up in the Marina, he and his posse of pals played basketball in the public schoolyard of Claire Lilienthal School.
But in 2011, due to budget cuts, every available playground in the S.F. Unified School District was chained shut to area neighbors. A fact the supervisor and his wife,
Liz Farrell, learned when they were guiding two of their children off training wheels and realized their only option was a busy boulevard.
So Farrell founded the nonprofit San Francisco Shared Schoolyard Project by raising private funds to reverse the situation.
Now 50 of 80 SFUSD schoolyards have reopened on the weekend to neighbors. So supporters Farah and
Victor Makras hosted an A16-cooked dinner Nov. 9 in their sleek home to attract local movers and shakers to perpetually endow this project.
The fund not only deep cleans each playground twice yearly, it also provides those schools with money for P.E. equipment and weekend recreational programming.
“Mark’s vision with Shared Schoolyards breaks down walls between city departments and ensures these reopened schoolyards are safe and exciting places for kids to enjoy,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “The city must be innovative with underutilized space. When it comes to schools, education and the health of our kids, there should be no borders.”
Opa: Due to an unplanned but delightful coincidence, this column happens to highlight Hellenic leaders, such as the above-mentioned Volandes and Makras. But there was no greater gathering of Greeks than at the Fairmont Hotel for the Elios Society’s recent Hellenic Charity Ball Nov 4. Led by co-chairs Roberta Economidis and Niki Leondakis, with emcee Marilu Henner, the spirit of “Opa!” was strong as Elios honored the cultural and artistic achievements of TV host Debbie Matenopoulos, photographer Michael Zagaris and screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos.
And 600 guests raised funds for Elios to continue its support of local and international organizations promoting Hellenic and cultural arts.
“Most of our kids are second-, third-generation Greek Americans. They’re losing connection with their heritage,” said Elios Society President
John Gumas, a city-born son of a Greek immigrant. “Elios is about connecting kids with their roots.”
When his son, Nick Gumas ,wasa college student he participated in an Elios-funded program, Heritage Greece, that takes 50 students to Greece to study the language, culture and history.
“Nick used to tease me about my devotion to our heritage. But when he got back, first thing he said was, ‘I get it!’ ” related Gumas. “We’re all proud to be Americans. But there’s something special about where your ancestors came from.”
Date-savers: Tickets remain for the Dec. 16 “Land of Dreams” luncheon benefiting youth programs of the San Francisco Ballet and its Ballet School Scholarship Fund. The kid-friendly afternoon includes craft projects and a matinee performance of the Ballet’s beloved “Nutcracker.” On Dec. 2, French Laundry Chef
Thomas Keller joins other top toques in creating a four-star, multicourse menu at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena to benefit Napa & Sonoma Relief.
This new charitable organization was quickly launched by Wine Country heavy hitters (including Alexis and
Trevor Traina, vintner Carlo Mondavi, Keller and his partner, Laura Cunningham, and Festival Napa Valley
CEO Rick Walker) to assist fire recovery efforts.
“Housing was already a problem in the valley, then the fires destroyed or damaged almost 9,000 homes,” said Mondavi, a grandson of the legendary Robert Mondavi. “Many people who work in the vineyards or local restaurants lost everything. They’re the heart and soul of our community.”