The AEF/BCEF Volunteer Appreciation Party: Volunteers, Competitive Bowling, and Awards

Honoree Joanie Juster with Volunteer Manager Sean Greene

The AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) presented a volunteer appreciation party at Yerba Buena Bowl on Feb. 7 for a couple dozen people who dedicated themselves to the charities throughout the year. The AEF and BCEF provide life-saving financial support and measurably improve their clients’ quality of life.

Yerba Buena Bowl has some of the few bowling lanes left in San Francisco. It is modern and well-maintained, like the ice skating center next door. A treasure of the bowling center is the attentive catering by Tammy Cessna of Mo’s Grill, which is also located in the Yerba Buena complex. While much of the cuisine in America that is in close proximity to bowling balls is an abomination, that is not the case at Yerba Buena where three varieties of fluffy gourmet pizza and wonderful roast beef and ham sandwiches were eagerly loaded onto party plates by the hungry volunteers.

Guests were greeted by BCEF Client Services Associate Suzy Goldsmith and hardworking double-jobbed BCEF Communication Manager and Volunteer Manager Sean Greene, and between them they knew everyone entering the party.

The party’s excitement level was noticeably lower than last year’s because Suzan Revah and her energetic crew were on an Atlantis cruise. Revah hosts the monthly Nasty party that benefits the AEF at the Powerhouse bar. Her party has brought electro-torture and unusually primal go-go dancers in jockstraps out into the SOMA mainstream.

Board VP Neil Figurelli, Volunteer Manager Sean Greene, and Board President Cynthia Hester

AEF/BCEF Board President Cynthia Hester, who is a Senior Marketing Director at Hewlett-Packard, graciously thanked the volunteers for being the “heart and soul” of the organizations, and BCEF manager Sean Greene announced several awards, including a well-deserved award to the "Every Penny Counts" program coordinator, Kelly Rivera Hart.

Executive Director Mike Smith

AEF/BCEF Executive Director Mike Smith revealed that the popular annual AEF County Fair would not be happening in 2011, but board president Hester said that another big spring event would take its place.

Board VP Neil Figurelli, who is the charities’ Senior Event Planner, is employed at Winslow & Associates public relations and the board is lucky to have secured his talents. He has been successful at providing superior entertainment at the County Fair and the charities’ annual December holiday dinner.

Volunteer Manager Sean Greene interrupted the bowling to introduce former volunteer manager Joanie Juster, and gave her a floral bouquet, saying that she is the reason that most of the attendees were at the event. Jester thanked him and said that the volunteers are now in good hands. Jester is touring the country promoting her award-winning documentary "Alaska Far Away: The New Deal Pioneers of Matanuska Colony."

Then the bowling started up again and Troy Brunet outscored his team and partner John Kiltinen. Paul Soto (who is Mr. Golden State Gay Rodeo Association) and Chris Benson furiously competed against each other as did a lot of the other volunteers with their partners.

Volunteer appreciation parties are a terrific way for charities to say “thank you” and it has worked well for the AEF and BCEF to retain the people who make the organizations’ work possible.

Tenderloin Health’s Early Summer Sunset Cruise: A Cruise on the Bay for a Good Cause

Andy Chen and David L. Fernandez of Tenderloin Health with honorees Barbara Garcia and Amy Lyons

There was a beautiful sunset on San Francisco Bay for the guests on this year’s Tenderloin Health cruise near the Golden Gate Bridge on June 17. The Chardonnay Commodore glided across the water and then returned for a below deck ceremony, and it was an exciting change from past year’s penthouse soirées.

Tenderloin Health provides housing and social services to the Tenderloin District’s homeless, poor, and vulnerable residents with respect and compassion.

Host Geoffrey Grier showing his soap promoting the San Francisco Recovery Theatre

Host Geoffrey Grier expertly explained each speaker’s impact on Tenderloin Health’s clients and new executive director David L. Fernandez elaborated on the fine work of the staff and volunteers of the agency. Board chair Andy Chen elaborated on the need for additional funding considering the present financial situation. Poet Mark Myers, a client, read from his work and spoke about his future social work classes at City College, thanks to Tenderloin Health. Avantika Nath, a San Francisco Department of Public Health dentist spoke expansively about overcoming distrust of the clients and being able to help them at the agency office, instead of at an unfamiliar site.

Honoree Barbara Garcia is San Francisco’s Deputy Director of Health, and she oversees community programs and over 2,000 employees who work tirelessly to try to alleviate the ravages of homelessness and poverty. Amy Lyons accepted the honorary sculpture for the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, a charitable organization that supports improvement in the quality of life.

Avantika Nath and Zareh Amirkhanian

Though docked, the ship rocked during the ceremonies, so that honorees had to hold onto the microphone tightly for support, which drew knowing laughter from the guests who held onto each other.

Your American Original Eric Ward

Your American Original Eric Ward provided the songs and music with his combo toward the end of the evening as guests checked out the silent auction, and it evoked Las Vegas’ top lounge performances. His CD is an incredible collection of highly professional sounds and rhythms that is recommended.

There was a rush for the finale of the auction and then careful departures with assistance from the ship’s crew for those who enjoyed their wine, and there was all-around agreement that Tenderloin Health outdid themselves this year to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Troy Brunet and John Kiltinen

The Tenderloin Health Reception at the Clift Hotel: Support Despite Severe Budget Cuts

Tenderloin Health hosted a gala reception at the luxurious Clift Hotel in San Francisco’s theater district on June 16, 2009. The hotel’s swank and softly lit penthouse provided a beautiful setting and spectacular city views for a large turnout of clients, supporters, donors, and friends of the agency. Huge floral displays and the impressive fireplace were admired by the well-dressed guests, many attired for work downtown.

Tenderloin Health was founded to provide maximum mental and physical health services for the Tenderloin’s neediest citizens. A goal is to establish self-esteem and then stabilization with housing and jobs for people vulnerable to the worst of the Tenderloin’s streets and alleys.

The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction that featured Steven Saylor’s popular ancient Greek and Roman murder mystery novels. Saylor was on hand to interact with his fans, and the Frameline LGBT Film Festival was also represented with dozens of other desirable donors of goods and services.

Chuck Gee & Friends performed the evening’s entertainment with just the right musical note, and with the stiff and quickly poured cocktails, guests mingled and signed up for auction items. The lamb chops were judged to be superb, and the red wine was a fine choice.

San Francisco City Supervisor Bevan Dufty was in the program as master of ceremonies, but he was engrossed in The City’s torturous budget deliberations, so board member Troy Brunet, who was a client, stepped forward to express the board’s appreciation for the agency’s work and to honor former executive director Tracy Brown’s vision in merging Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center (TARC) and Continuum HIV Day Services. Tenderloin Health was the result of the merger, and more than 12,000 residents used its services last year, which was possible because of Tracy Brown’s perception that the single agency would be more efficient.

MC Troy Brunet then introduced board of directors chair David Krimm, who spoke about his satisfaction in knowing that Tenderloin Health had increased its programs despite cuts in its budget and revealed that he was stepping down after years on the board, to be replaced by Andy Chen. Krimm also thanked the professional caregivers who make the agency’s work possible.

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer sent her aide Megan Miller to the event, and she read a proclamation from the senator. A large framed proclamation from California State Senators Mark Leno and Leland Yee was on display, and a certificate from Fiona Ma was also on the mantle. A client named Mark Myers read a charming poem of appreciation.

The moment that everyone was waiting for, the introduction of the honoree Tracy Brown, came with an unfortunate surprise. Brown had to step down from Tenderloin Health because of illness, and it was announced that he would not be there to accept his trophy and proclamations because of his illness — under orders from his doctor. There was a suggestion that much drama was involved when Tracy Brown was given the news. New executive director Colm Hegarty introduced Tracy Brown’s lover of 18 years, Gregory Holland, and he accepted the trophy for Brown. Greg Holland is the Chief Executive Officer of for the Shorenstein Theater Company that is presenting the amazing “Wicked” at the Orpheum Theater, and he and his company are strong supporters of Tenderloin Health. Holland and Hegarty made it clear that Tracy Brown saw unnecessary suffering in the Tenderloin, and he set out to do something about it. Tenderloin Health and it successes and the hope that it brings are a tribute to him.

Notable patrons and supporters at the reception included philanthropist Timothy Wu, Positive Resource Center executive director Brett Andrews, Carlos Bermudez and Sarabh Bajaj from API Wellness Center, Troy Brunet’s friend John Kiltinen, and political analyst Wayne Friday.

There was a scramble to sign up for last minute silent auction bids. The party was officially over at 8:00PM, but the more effervescent guests hovered around the bar until almost 9:00, the mark of a successful event — guests don't want to leave.