$35,000 Raised For b.a.y. Fund Students At 2004 Red Hot Ball

b.a.y. fund is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that helps young people finish high school and become the first in their families to graduate from college. b.a.y. fund offers mentoring, tutoring, internships, community service opportunities, skills workshops, college visits, college application counseling, and college financial scholarships. b.a.y. fund is unique in that it makes a ten-year commitment to each student, including five years of one-on-one mentoring and tutoring from eighth through twelfth grade, and a five-year college scholarship.

More than 500 Bay Area guests joined Bay Area Youth Fund for Education (b.a.y. fund) for the “Red Hot Ball,” the second annual gala fund-raiser, at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio. The $35,000 raised supports the b.a.y. fund’s mission to help young people finish high school and become the first in their families to graduate from college.

Guests fashioned in red-hot cocktail attire celebrated the evening amid a spectacular red backdrop while dancing to the tunes of The Cheeseballs. Guests enjoyed hosted cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts donated by esteemed Bay Area establishments. The evening featured a raffle and silent auction with unique gifts donated by Bay Area individuals and businesses. Top prizes included a ride on the San Francisco Fire Department Fireboat and an Oakland Raiders football signed by the entire team. More than 100 volunteers and committee members contributed their time to produce the event–a tribute to the widespread appeal of the b.a.y. fund and the generosity of San Francisco citizens.

Earlier in the evening, New York Jet and former San Francisco ’49er Doug Brien and Olympic gold medal swimmer Mark Henderson joined mentors and chaperones at the Red Hot Hip Hop party hosted for b.a.y. fund students. In addition to sharing their inspirational stories and signing autographs, Doug and Mark challenged students to succeed by offering to take those with the top GPA and most improved GPA to a professional sporting event in the fall.

The Red Hot Ball was underwritten by generous donations from Kensington Investment Group and Synopsys. Honored guests included Paul Gray of Kensington Investment Group, Mike Posey of the Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco’s best firefighters. Among the many event sponsors were b.a.y. fund cofounders Anaflor Smith and Ann-Eve Hazen, Bambuddha Lounge, Bruno’s, Dave Hoyt of Wells Fargo Bank, Eastside West, Emerald Vodka, Franklin Templeton Investments, Heaven Day Spa, Jessup Cellars, Jorja, Oakland Raiders, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Rose Pistola/Rose’s Cafe, San Francisco Bay Club, San Francisco Fire Department, Stella Artois, San Francisco’s The Sports Club/LA, Trademark Event Productions, Inc., and Vitamin Water.