Apr 22, 2007

Counseling Services raises funds for teens in need

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Adolescent Counseling Services of Palo Alto packed Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club with 210 dressed-up attendees for "Spring Sounds," the organization's annual dinner and dance gala on April 14.

The benefit saluted the organization, whose mission is "helping teenagers to find their way."

"ACS has helped 20,000 plus children and family members for 31 years. When kids and families are healthy, it makes our entire community healthy," Executive Director Philippe Rey said. "Every day, the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program helps distressed and emotionally wounded teens and their family members cope and deal with the destruction of substance use."

The evening took an emotional turn when Carol and Travis Steagall spoke about the Adolescent Substance Treatment Abuse Program and how it saved their family. The couple's son Gene, a rollerblade champion with aspirations of competing in the next X Games, was a cocaine addict. After sharing his experiences during the family's seven months of counseling, Gene is now sober and gainfully employed.

Brenda Stern, director of the treatment program, later remarked how proud she was of this family. Their outcome in the program was successful because they did everything that was requested of them.

Event chairs Susan Jewekes and Linda Kraemer were thrilled that the evening was a financial success. Auctioneer Mark Drilling generated a lot of excitement, raising $47,000 at the live auction, plus $33,400 during the Fund-a-Need bidding for counseling scholarships.

Committee members Shames Panahi, Holly Ward, Sylvie Way and Susan McDonnell, along with Melissa and Lee Caswell, Jackie Mayer, and Lorie and Sam Sinnott were some of the enthusiastic dancers who asked DJ Misterspin to stay late.

Guests included Barbara and Doug Spreng, Don Way, Elizabeth Wolf, Norma Hesterman, Sue Barkhurst, and Honorary Chairmen Hal Korol and his wife Iris.



PASSAGE TO INDIA GALA

The International School of the Peninsula's 19th annual gala and auction, "Passage to India," was elegant, exotic and glamorous. The colorful sold-out March 31 event at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose attracted 350 guests. Many wore saris in jewel tones, set off with necklaces, bangles and beads.

Proceeds from a middle school art auction of Indian-themed work benefited girls' education in India through the Stanford University chapter of Asha for Education. The affair also featured traditional Indian cuisine from Amber India Restaurant at Santana Row and a Bollywood dance demonstration by parents.

Eric Steppling and Patricia Majorel won the marriage vow renewal auction item, inspired by the elaborate ceremony in the popular international film, "Monsoon Wedding." Other sought-after auction items were a one-carat diamond necklace purchased by Larry Bailey and Sophie Ravel, and a dinner with Philippe Dietz, head of the International School, which was so popular it sold twice for $9,000.

Co-chairs Paru Desai Yusuf and Sonya Pelia were thrilled that the gala raised $250,000 for school programs and scholarships.

"It is with great pleasure that we were able to bring our community together and share our culture with them," Yusuf said. "This year's gala was more than just a fun evening, it was a way to express our pride in the Indian culture."

Guests included Brian and Iris Croll, Bill and Michelle Tai-Beauchamp and Janet and Richard Hart.



"BEACH BALL" AT SACRED HEART

Sacred Heart School's annual auction dinner party brought a touch of summer to the Atherton campus.

"The Beach Ball," a Nantucket yacht club-style party, set the scene with surfboards, pelicans, a nearby lighthouse and a lifeguard station. More than 600 parents, faculty, administrators and alumni, dressed in summertime picnic and lifeguard ensembles, bid on silent auction items. Quintessential Nantucket couple Lovey and Thurston Howell III (played by teachers Connie Solari and Chris Martin) also made appearances.

"This was our most successful auction yet," said Director of Schools Joseph Ciancaglini.
Student singers, dressed in beach towels and surf trunks, performed tunes by the Beach Boys, and made sure to mention that the real Beach Boys would perform May 4 at the school's Campbell Theater. David Martin's House Party also performed.

This year's fun new item was a Celebration ring raffle sponsored by Tiffany & Co. During the cocktail hour, guests purchased the jewelry company's signature blue boxes filled with crystal replicas. One of the boxes contained a gift certificate for a genuine diamond Celebration ring. Three friends will join Maisie O'Flanagan, who purchased the lucky box, for a "breakfast at Tiffany's" when she receives the ring.

Trustees Laurel Koenig, Mindy Rogers and Marretje Greene, along with parents Erik and Stephanie Corrigan, Ann Barry and Buff Gurlani, and Gary and Kathryn Swart had fun bidding on hot items, such as a chance to watch the New York Yankees play the Giants at AT&T Park for the first time, and the opportunity for 10 guests to dance onstage with the Beach Boys.

Co-chairs Kasey Hansen, Cherie Harris, Sandy Levison, Nettie Ramsay and Sibylle Whittam received rave reviews for their action-packed night.