49ers break bread with fans at Pasta Bowl dinner
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose sit-down during the national anthem last week made headlines, didn’t sit out Pasta Bowl X, Sunday night’s big event for the 49ers Foundation at Levi’s Stadium. And if the line of fans waiting for his autograph was any indication, he’s still got plenty of fans among the 49ers Faithful.
The only controversy Kap could have sparked at this event would have been fumbling the manicotti.
The entire 49ers team, in fact, was on hand to pass the breadsticks Sunday night, with about 600 fans attending the charity fundraiser, which was founded in 2007 by the 49ers Foundation and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group with the aim of keeping underserved youth on the right track.
“The Pasta Bowl is a great tradition they’ve been doing here,” wide receiver Torrey Smith said. “It gives us an opportunity to step out of our roles and enjoy the company of the faithful.”
And the 49ers Faithful were thrilled to see them. Wearing red T-shirts and white aprons, the team helped serve dinner to the guests at Levi’s Stadium’s fancy United Club, which was decked out with long banquet tables draped in red checkered tablecloths. It wasn’t just current players, either: 49ers alumni, along with owner John York, CEO Jed York and coach Chip Kelly also broke bread with fans.
The dinner has become popular with Silicon Valley companies, including SAP and NRG, which were key sponsors this year. Beneficiaries for this year’s event were City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, which supports the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute’s Chevron STEMZONE.
On top of it being the 10th
annual Pasta Bowl, the preseason event marked a couple of other milestones, too: It’s the 49ers’ 70th anniversary and it’s the 25th anniversary of the 49ers Foundation. The team’s charitable arm has contributed $35 million to the community, earning a reputation in the NFL.
“There’s not a better foundation in professional sports,” said Kelly, who joined the 49ers in January. “The impact it’s had on the community is second to none.”
MOVING PRESENTATION: The San Jose Woman’s Club is bringing VTA General Manager Nuria Fernandez in Wednesday as part of its new speaker series, “Words from Women of Wisdom.”
Of course, she’ll have a lot to talk about, with the VTA’s bus rapid transit projects and the BART extension to San Jose on the horizon. And who knows, she might drop in a word about the $6.5 billion transportation measure on the November ballot.
Tickets to the event, which starts at 6 p.m. at 75 S. 11th St. in San Jose, are $5 for members and students and $10 for everyone else. Get more information at www.sjwomansclub.org.
BRING ON THE BUBBLY: Artist Jim Miner christened his colorful new mural on the west-facing wall of the Hotel De Anza on Friday by dramatically lopping off the top of a champagne bottle with a saber.
Erin Salazar of the Exhibition District, the nonprofit that arranged for the mural, said they’d originally planned to smash the bottle on the painted wall but decided that would be too messy. Besides, this way you still get to drink the wine.
And speaking of champagne and the De Anza, The Commons — which has produced several eclectic performance events downtown — is redefining brunch with its “Mimosa Social Scene” at the hotel’s Palm Court Terrace on Sunday morning. There promises to be music, dance and mimosas (with brunch available from La Pastaia, naturally), but since everything The Commons does is decidedly uncommon, expect some surprises. Get details and tickets at http://tinyurl.com/ helttp4.