2009 Fundraiser a Success
Look at photos from the fundraiser >
Three Piedmont residents joined forces on Saturday night to stage a fundraiser for two charities aiding children and young adults in Kenya. Uptown Body and Fender in the heart of Oakland, owned by Giovanna Tanzillo, provided the perfect venue for the dance party and fundraiser jointly held by the Orphan Support League and East Bay for East Africa. Ms. Tanzillo had previously introduced the OSL President, Briony Bax, to EBEA’s President, Teresa Picchi, when she realized both Piedmont residents were working toward similar goals in Kenya.
The OSL provides funds for two orphanages in Kenya and education of children living in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. EBEA’s mission is to provide job skills to young adults so that they can be self-reliant; it built and supports a Technical School in Musoli, Kenya. The joint fundraiser featured a silent auction and entertainment by Graham and Lewis Patzner as well as dance music by the Bob Claire Orchestra. Many of the items in the silent auction were donated by local residents and businesses. Mum’s Homemade, owned by Ms. Bax and Margaret Heafey, catered the event.
The fundraiser was an unqualified success. Over 150 people attended the event and danced until the end of the party. Ms. Picchi commented, “It was great to join forces with OSL to have one big fundraiser rather than two smaller events. It was amazing to see how a larger crowd was able to generate greater interest and support for the work we are both doing in Kenya."