A 40th Birthday Bash to Remember
On Thursday, March 7, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area held our signature gala event, Evening of Wishes, at the Fairmont San Francisco. The Birthday Bash celebrated the chapter’s founding in 1984, with more than 9,500 wishes granted in the past 40 years. The program featured many of the founding volunteers who shaped the organization into what it is today, as well as a 20-year milestone spotlight on Ben’s wish to create a video game in 2004. Recent wish alum Sophie brought the house down with her performance of an original song on vocals and guitar. It was her first-ever time performing in front of a live audience!
Thanks to the support of generous sponsors, donors, and guests, the event raised over $1 million in support of our mission—starting the next 40 years of wish granting off right! The celebration continued at the Tonga Party Afterparty, sponsored by Penserra and Marti Pozzi and Jim Congdon.
To view all photos from the event, visit Drew Altizer Photography. Photo booth photos were by Brian Orlov Photography, and roaming selfie photos in the Tonga Room were by Entire Productions.
Board members enjoy our Cocktail Party Welcome Reception, sponsored by the Jonathan and Rae Corr Family Foundation. From left to right: Ash Baraghoush, Ben Kochalski, Jennifer Shappley, Beryl Potter, Tiffany Loren Rowe, Allegra Jones, and Larry Nibbi.
From left to right: Anthony Sammut, Abby Manley, and George Sammut enjoy the Cocktail Party Welcome Reception at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests peruse the silent auction. Thanks to our Auction Committee, Wine Acquisition Committee, generous auction donors, and bidders, our silent auction raised more than $65,000 for wishes.
Carla and Tony Wicks enjoy wine from Gundlach Bundschu Winery. Thank you to the wineries who poured at our reception, including Abbot’s Passage Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Lula Cellars, and Silver Trident Winery.
From left to right: Abby Noche and Lucia Gilbertson at the 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash reception.
Chris Durie, Jasper Durie and Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area’s former Chief Operating Officer Lynne Durie during the reception at the 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
From left to right: Alan Chai, Wish It Forward Parent Council Chair Deborah Huber, Willow Older, and Leroy Hasen at the 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash reception.
The Harsch and Miguel family enjoy the reception at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash on March 7, at Fairmont San Francisco.
Wish alum and wish ambassador Isabel Bueso (center) with her parents, Karla and Alberto Bueso, and CEO Betsy Biern
^ Scroll for more photos from our 2024 Evening of Wishes Cocktail Party Welcome Reception
Emcee Ama Daetz welcomes nearly 500 guests to 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash on March 7.
Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area CEO Betsy Biern gives her address at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Our fabulous auctioneer, Ellen Toscano, led a successful live auction and Adopt-A-Wish paddle raise! Donors contributed more than $525,000 toward wishes during these events.
Wish alum Sophie performs an original song with back up from auctioneer Ellen Toscano at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Wish alum Ben with volunteer Eric “EJ” Johnston, who partnered with Ben to create a video game for Ben’s wish in 2004. We celebrated the 20-year anniversary of this inspiring wish during our 2024 Evening of Wishes program.
Senior Volunteer Manager Daniel Marlay (left) and Volunteer & Governance Associate Kaitlin Doolittle (right) present volunteer NaSun Cho with a plaque commemorating her 20-year volunteer milestone. Thank you, NaSun and our other milestone volunteers, for helping grant wishes for so many years!
Guests from PlayStation, our Wish Jubilee Sponsor, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Scott and Lucia Gilbertson, one of our Ruby Jubilee Sponsors, with their guests at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests from Corsair, one of our Ruby Jubilee Sponsors, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests from Deloitte, one of our Ruby Jubilee Sponsors, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests from Capital Group, one of our Ruby Jubilee Sponsor, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests from Kaiser, one of our Ruby Jubilee Sponsors, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash.
Guests from Penserra, one of our Tonga Room Afterparty Sponsors, at 2024 Evening of Wishes: Birthday Bash. Thank you, Penserra and Marti Pozzi and Jim Congdon for generously sponsoring the Tonga Room Afterparty.
^ Scroll for more photos from our 2024 Evening of Wishes dinner
Legacies of the Pacific perform in the Tonga Room at the 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.
From left to right: Tony Wicks, Board Member Beryl Potter, and Carla Wicks celebrate in the Tonga Room after a successful 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7. Thanks to all who supported, attended, and elevated this event into something special for our 40th Birthday!
Board members George Madrigal and Marti Pozzi enjoy the Tonga Room Afterparty following a successful 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7. Thank you to Marti and Jim Congdon and George’s company, Penserra, for sponsoring our Tonga Room Afterparty.
From left to right: Board of Directors Vice Chair and Secretary Tiffany Rowe and Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area CEO Betsy Biern celebrate in the Tonga Room after a successful 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.
From left to right: Rick Silvani and Katrina Silvani enjoy the Tonga Room afterparty at the 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.
From left to right: Kim Arthworth and Erica Quitzar enjoy the Tonga Room afterparty at the 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.
From left to right: Lindsey Stoll and Lalo Gutierrez enjoying the Tonga Room afterparty at the 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.
From left to right: Sylvia Bore and Linday Mignano enjoying the Tonga Room afterparty at the 2024 Evening of Wishes on Thursday, March 7.