Apr 13, 2008

Enthusiastic farewell bid at 'Hooray' benefit

By Adria Murray / Society Columnist

In recognition of two preschool teachers' 30-year careers, the Peninsula Jewish Community Center of Foster City paid tribute to Cathy Brown and Ellie Rosenberg for their loving dedication to the lives and education of preschoolers at the center's largest-ever benefit. On April 6, more than 500 people attended the PJCC's "Hooray for Hollywood" annual benefit to bid farewell to the much-loved, soon-to-be-retired honorees, and watched their families, friends and rabbis take the catwalk in a Hollywood-themed runway show in the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame.

During the afternoon luncheon, Early Childhood Education director Judy Garb said in her introductory remarks, "I feel like my left and right arms are being pulled from my sides as we speak."

And she wasn't alone. Rosenberg and Brown's legacies with the preschool have touched the lives of five generations of children, parents and grandparents - including many of their own - who were enrolled in their classes, who sought them out for parental advice over the years, and who lent a helping hand in the classroom during retirement.

When Rosenberg took the stage the emotions of the day began to hit her. "Oh, there goes the makeup," she said, with a dab and a smile.

"Thank you for sharing your delightful children with me," said Rosenberg in closing, "they are the reason I love my job so much."

Brown felt the same. "I've been given not just a job; the PJCC has become my extended family," she said, and added, "When you love what you do, and do work that matters, what could be more fun?"

Funds raised at the event benefited the newly established Ellie Rosenberg ECE Campership Fund, an endowment for summer and holiday camp tuitions, and the Cathy F. Brown ECE Staff Development Fund, to support continued education for the PJCC Preschool staff.

Additionally, the afternoon's Fund-a-Need auctions benefited the Get Up and Go program, a senior-targeted outreach program that assists the elderly with rides to appointments and with help running errands.

The idea for the first annual benefit originated from the center's desire to raise funds for a bus for just such programs. "We still have the bus," said Susan Ammons, director of Adult Programs, "It's about 17 years old now."

Senior and child models got the biggest yelps and applause during the Red Carpet Walk fashion show, with styles from Macy's Hillsdale, Lululemon Athletica, Alta, Jos. A. Bank and others, along with snappy choreography by Keely Reynolds.

Models dancing to the music of "Ghostbusters," "The Wiz," and "Chicago" included ECE director Garb, PJCC board member Lisa Wachtell, and PJCC President Scott Hartley and his wife Sharon, just to name a few.

Sitting at the foot of the stage cheering on her children was preschool parent and event co-chairwoman Jill Engel, who beamed with pride over her mother's (Rosenberg's) heart-felt send off. Also sitting on the floor before the stage cheering was preschool parent and event co-chairwoman Shelley Smith.

Also seen enjoying the Tinsel town fashion tribute were sponsors Anne and David Steirman, as well as board members Jane Blumberg-Goldberg, Eva Chernov Lokey and Lorry I. Lokey, Kathy and Don Williams, and Karen Alexander and her husband Ross Weiner.

Altogether, the event brought in a ballpark $150,000 dollars, a portion of which will be matched in funding by the Lorry I. Lokey Endowment Fund.

A very small portion, of course, will go toward an oil change for the good ol' bus.


WINNERS BREAKFAST AWARDS

The invitation said "rise and shine" - and shine they did.

The seven teens and three adults honored at the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County's "Rise and Shine" 13th annual Winners Breakfast overcame tremendous adversities to graduate from high school and to put themselves on the path to a better life.

The inspiring stories included those of award winners who overcame physical disabilities (Muneeb Khan), a life-changing disease (Travis Mellet) and legal blindness (Francisca Shayo).

A couple winners came to this country not speaking a word of English, including Claudio Godinez, who left an impoverished Mexican village with his destitute family, and Hamza Fakhri, who fled Morocco with his family to escape an abusive home situation.

Others persevered despite major setbacks. Sharonda Johnson pulled herself and her six children out of financial and emotional turmoil, Jessica Orozco managed to graduate from high school after an unplanned teen pregnancy. Senior Enola Kirk got herself back into the work force after a two-year period of homelessness.

And all of the winners' stories pulled at the heartstrings, like that of Rosa Alvarez, who picked up the pieces of her life after the murder of her sister and her mother's impending illness. Or that of Teruko Dobashi, who suffered crack withdrawal at birth, was raised by a client of her prostitute mother's, and managed to leave the streets and drug dealing behind to go on to succeed in school and mentor other young girls in trouble.

Each of the winners was presented a plaque by Family Service President Laurie Wishard - who hugged the many familiar faces that had graduated through various Family Service programs - and received congratulations from event co-chair Pandy Garvic. (Co-chair William O. Hetts regretfully could not attend.)

Special guest for the past 13 years, motivational speaker Michael Pritchard entertained the crowd with his trademark humor and enlightened with his message that "kids have much to teach us."

As a former educator and probation officer, Pritchard relayed a piece of advice he gives to all the children he meets: "The good you do will come back to you."

Pritchard went on to tell a story about walking down the sidewalk in downtown San Francisco one day when a fire truck came wailing down the street. From the truck, a firefighter he recognized as a former student yelled out: "The good you do will come back to you."

A 2001 Winners Breakfast Award recipient and employee at Oracle, the event's partnering sponsor, Greg Geibel was in attendance to show his support to the newest members of the "Breakfast" club.

Also up and at 'em (at 7 a.m.) were Family Service Board Chair Kirk Syme and 13-year event co-chair and master of ceremonies Michael Berube, as well as event sponsors Vivienne Virani, Charles Huggins, Jill Flynn and Betsy and Bill Pace.

In his closing remarks, Pritchard drove home the fact that these honorees were proof that good can come to those who do good, and said to the crowd "We need to be encouragers of the human spirit."

The winners that morning appeared onstage, their heads held up, proud of their accomplishments. Their spirits have emerged from adversity unbroken, and they will move forward knowing they have the resources within to rise above.

Adria Murray's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 255 Constitution Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025, or e-mail amurray@dailynews group.com or call 650-391-1340.