SF Downtown Charity 2007
By Sean McCourt
For many people in the Bay Area, the holidays are a time to visit with family and friends, to share the warmth of the season with loved ones, and to give thanks for our blessings. We fondly recall past holiday memories, and eagerly look forward to creating new ones. Sadly, not everybody in San Francisco is so fortunate; some may not have enough food to eat, while others don't have anyone to spend this special time of year with. Whether it's volunteering to help a local program, donating to a good cause, or attending a benefit gala, there are many opportunities to help brighten the holiday season for fellow San Franciscans.
One of the most familiar signs that the holidays are fast approaching is the appearance of the bell ringing members of the Salvation Army (553-3568, www.salvationarmyusa.org) accepting donations for the needy. After finding those perfect gifts for your loved ones while on a day out shopping, simply drop some of your spare change into the iconic red kettles on the way out and help support the many wonderful programs that the Salvation Army has provided over the course of its’ 142-year long history.
Stars from American Idol, Broadway, and Hollywood—as well as local Bay Area talent—will appear at Help is on the Way for the Holidays IX, a holiday gala and concert at the Herbst Theatre benefiting Meals of Marin and Positive Resource Center. The Dec. 2 event includes a pre-concert silent auction and an all-star performance featuring Mary Wilson, Sally Struthers, Vicki Lewis, Sony Holland, Anthony Fedorov and more. Tickets and information are available at helpisontheway.org.
During the National Project Homeless Connect Day (www.sfconect.org) on Dec. 5, volunteers are needed at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (99 Grove St.) to help connect the estimated 2,000 homeless people with the services that they need.
Want to enjoy a special night out and support local causes at the same time? Stars The Agency presents their annual Holiday Celebration benefiting the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation (which helps children with life threatening illnesses) on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. at Ruby Skye (420 Mason St.). For a $25 donation, revel in live music from Pride and Joy, hors d’ oeuvres, champagne, a silent auction, and more (www.starsagency.com, 421-6272, www.makewish.org, (800) 464-9474).
The annual San Francisco Firefighters Toys for Tots (395-8595) charity event at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room also takes place on Dec. 5, where guests who make a monetary donation and bring an unwrapped toy will be awed with breathtaking views of the city skyline while dancing the night away.
On Dec. 6, the San Francisco Opera Association, San Francisco Opera Guild and Neiman Marcus present ’Tis the Season holiday soirée and fundraiser (565-3204. sfopera.com.) benefiting the Opera Guild’s education and outreach programs. The 6 p.m. event happens at the Rotunda Restaurant (150 Stockton St.), and tickets range from $95-$500. The following evening’s Special Olymics Spirit of the Season gala at the Fairmont Hotel ($250, 950 Mason St., 593-3250 x207) will feature both live and silent auctions, with proceeds benefiting the inspiring athletes that take part in the Special Olympics.
Glide Memorial Church’s Annual Holiday Festival on Dec. 7 is themed “Celebrating Women: Real Voices for Change,” and features special guest Dr. Maya Angelou at the celebration for Janice Mirikitani’s 40 years of service to the Bay Area’s women, children and communities. The event, taking place from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Hilton San Francisco, is a benefit for Mo’s Kitchen and programs of the Glide Foundation, with tickets for the one of a kind dinner starting at $250 (www.glide.org/2007HolidayFestival.aspx, 674-6070).
From the iconic Lionel model railroad running around the Christmas tree to the magical locomotives that steam through books and films such as “The Polar Express,” trains have been a beloved part of the holiday season for generations. Continuing the seasonal tradition, Caltrain presents its annual Holiday Train (www.caltrain.com) Dec. 7-9, making nine stops between San Francisco and Santa Clara, bringing music, carolers, and of course Santa Claus to the thousands of people that flock alongside the tracks to see the brightly lit and colorfully decorated train.
Be sure to bring a toy to the festive events, where service members from the U.S. Marine Corps will also be on hand to accept donations for their Toys for Tots program, a tradition since 1948.
Heading out to the 49ers game during the month of December? Toy donations will be accepted at Monster Park on Dec. 9th as the Niners take on the Minnesota Vikings, while food donations will be accepted on Dec. 16th as the local team faces Cincinnati (www.49ers.com/community).
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation Women and Family Holiday Party (www.sfaf.org.) takes place on Dec. 13th, where women living with HIV/AIDS and their families enjoy an evening of delightful entertainment and receive special gifts. Volunteers are needed to help staff and run the fete, along with the several events leading up to the party, where they can help wrap presents, pack supplies, and more.
The St. Anthony Foundation (www.stanthonysf.org, 241-2600, 121 Golden Gate Avenue) offers an easy option for donating on Dec. 15-18 and 22-25, when they host their 20th Annual Curbside Donation event where people can drop off donations, without even getting out of their cars—volunteers and staff will greet donors at the curb and take their contributions inside.
These are just a few of the many ways that San Franciscans can help out those less fortunate, support a worthy cause, or contribute to the well being of the community this holiday season—for more possibilities, including databases of volunteer opportunities, visit websites such as www.sfconnect.org, www.volunteerinfo.org, www.handsonbayarea.org, and www.volunteermatch.org to make this time of the year a little more special for both yourself and those around you.
