Sep 29, 2006

Praises sung for 'The Key to You' benefit

By Janet Duca Norton

A pair of Grammy Award-winning entertainers headlined "The Key to You" benefit concert for the Pacific Autism Center for Education. Atherton Mayor Charles Marsala opened his garden for the Sept. 10 evening event, which was presented by Heart of Silicon Valley, a fundraising group of young professionals.
Marcia Goldman, education director for PACE, said one in 166 children exhibits behaviors on the autistic spectrum. Peter Finch, KFOG morning anchor and news director, gave a moving personal account of his 17-year-old son's life with autism. The benefit raised $40,000 for PACE programs.
Co-chairs Maria Hermanussen and Roberta Economidis and their committee presented a festive evening featuring great music, good food, and auctions with emcees Marsala and Emmy Award-winning news anchor Terilyn Joe. Finch was an enthusiastic auctioneer and had fun with the bids for a dinner with the emcees at Mantra Restaurant and Lounge in Palo Alto, one of the event sponsors.
Composer and pianist David Benoit and singer David Pack, who have been friends since college, collaborated on the signature song "The Key to You." Their performances were a mix of new and old favorites, adding an impromptu invitation for Jim Pollack to join in with his banjo on Benoit's "Watermelon Man."
There were two surprise performers: Deborah Lavoy, the creative inspiration for Heart of Silicon Valley, premiered her new song "Weightless" with co-writer Pollock and composer Michael Silversher performed his Sept. 11-inspired song "A Simple Prayer."
Among those offering the performers a standing ovation were several movers and shakers from the Peninsula and San Francisco, including Ana Allioto, Kati Miller, Valerie Burneice, Geoff and Carla Davis, and Brenda and Greg Munks.

Chelsea Gallery's anniversary
Palo Alto's Chelsea Art Gallery, which specializes in contemporary British art, celebrated one year of business with a champagne reception in partnership with Putnam Jaguar on Sept. 15.
Gallery owner Suzanne Mohan timed the event perfectly so that acclaimed painter Matthew Radford could attend the opening of his "Random Empires" exhibit and meet several guests, who purchased his contemporary paintings.
"I love his work, which is renowned in London and New York, and it is an honor for me to host his West Coast debut," Mohan said.
Patrick Duffy and Wally Goodman were among the guests. Goodman, who created the Society of Modern Art in San Francisco in the 1980s, purchased two of Radfords paintings and donated them to the new Las Vegas Art Museum. The next day, Radford was the featured speaker at that museum.
During the party, Palo Alto resident Scott Ward took Radford to his home to view two diptych-style works, Gotham Blue I and II, which he has on display.
Radford, whose works portray unique visual and spatial relationships found in crowds of moving people, said his style "evolved over a period of time, and I'm a terrible people watcher." Grid-like overlays give his cityscapes the look of digital printing.
Collectors, friends and members of the local art world including Beth Dungan, Lorraine Morgan, Susan Craft, Paula and Phillip Kirkeby, and Atherton Mayor Charles Marsala, took turns viewing the exhibit, congratulating Mohan and chatting with Radford.

Athena goddess awarded
The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce refers to recipients of its Athena Award as goddesses.
Following tradition, this year's recipient, Karen Nierenberg, was honored at a luncheon at the Garden Court Hotel on Sept. 14 and saluted by 14 of the former goddesses and a near-capacity crowd. Former goddesses included Pam Brandin, Palo Alto Police Chief Lynne Johnson, Beverly Nadine, Loretta Green, Marlene Prendergast and Jeanne Kennedy.
The Athena Award is based on a similar award given by the Lansing, Mich., Regional Chamber of Commerce, which started in 1982.
Last year's honoree Barbara Gross described the Chamber Award as an extraordinary gift that encourages women to achieve their highest goals.
Carol Dressler's warm account of Nierenberg's achievements spotlighted her leadership roles in many community nonprofits and her extraordinary fundraising expertise for the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the establishment of an endowment for the Community Breast Health Project.
Nierenberg said she is particularly proud of the unique Breast Health bi-lingual program for women under 40 who do not have health insurance.
"My brother and I were influenced by our immigrant parents' experience. We learned to speak up for little people," she said. "Our community is truly blessed; we have such a wonderful array of nonprofits in the community."
Her family led the applause, which included husband Dr. Michael Nierenberg, daughter and son-in-law Jenni and Hugh Harris and granddaughter Alison, her brother and sister-in-law Cynthia and Tom Friedberg, who came from New Jersey for the occasion.
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, offered praise for Nierenberg. "This is long overdue," she said. "You set a high standard."
Friends from the Breast Health Project, including founder Jill Freidenrich and Dr. David Speigal, agreed with Eshoo's tribute.
Palo Alto Mayor Judy Kleinberg shared the podium with Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss and Assemblyman Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) for their proclamation presentations. "It is very special to give an award to a friend," Kleinberg said.

Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301, or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com or call (650) 327-9090, ext. 334.