If I look a little taller this week it’s due to stepping up on
my soap box. I don’t easily join bandwagons, but two causes I can
be passionate about are Bay Area-born.
If I look a little taller this week it’s due to stepping up on my soap box. I don’t easily join bandwagons, but two causes I can be passionate about are Bay Area-born. The first group of passionate do-gooders held a benefit luncheon at the Westside Grill in Gilroy on Saturday, March 10. The luncheon was hosted by Cathy Light, Karen Titus, Stacy Camiel and Penny Perluss, all of whom felt compelled to raise money for our local outreach organization, Community Solutions. Dubbed a “high-end” white elephant auction, the luncheon raised more than $6,700 amidst a menu of salmon, chicken, vegetarian dishes and a much raved about chocolate cake that was auctioned off and consumed on the spot.
Janice Felice won the best-looking shoe prize by judges Brenda Chizanskos and Amy Tripoli (I’m assuming Jimmy Choos?). Two brave men dared to work the event as bartenders. Manny Padilla and David Light held their own by, as Cathy Light explained, “making sure the women were eating, drinking and bidding.”
Brave and daring are the men that guard the last remaining populations of Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The geographic warping from the Gilroy event and the crisis in the Congo was intentional. Both are passionate and committed groups doing something for the world besides taking up space and creating waste. Employees of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo and the San Jose Park Rangers teamed up to offer support for the Congolese Rangers and their efforts to guard wildlife in one of the world’s oldest national parks. After learning that 97 rangers have lost their lives in the past 10 years and many have worked without pay for several years, Happy Hollow and friends held a first annual “Heart of the Congo” fundraising event in the Pacific Hotel at History Park, part of the Kelly Park property.
My soap box at times holds the boots of my other profession of a Happy Hollow Zookeeper (and you all wondered if that smell of goat was from the cheese on the appetizer table!). Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has many South County connections including two zoo veterinarians, Morgan Hill residents Dr. Richard McCormick and his wife Dr. Lori Kayashima of Valley Animal Hospital, as well as Alice Johnson, our farrier to the many hoofed critters.
With the attendance of more than 165 concerned and proactive individuals, including Chad Widmer, senior aquarist from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the guy who took care of all those jellyfish in the world’s largest collection, keepers from the San Francisco Zoo and friends and relatives, the event raised more than $15,000. Feasting on delicious African food, homemade beer and donated wine, attendees felt the beat of the Congo while Oriki drummers pounded out their hearts and souls.
The best buy of the night was the jaguar oil painting by Southern California artist Joe Weatherly, valued at $1,000 and bought for $375. Come over for a peek – its hanging in my living room! Before you do, check out the MySpace dedicated to the Congolese Rangers at myspace.com/gorillarangers.
And I say, “What’s wrong with a bleeding heart? Doesn’t it show you’re human?” I’m now stepping down from my soap box …
Ciao for now.
Have an event coming up or a hot tip for Mary Anne? E-mail it to hi*********@************ch.com.
