On August 7, 2010, San Francisco for Acumen and Nuru Project hosted Acumen Fund’s second DIGNITY Photo Auction Benefit.
We were so thrilled to be following in NY for Acumen’s footsteps this summer as we planned the DIGNITY Photo Auction Benefit. This fundraiser creatively employs photography to inspire guests to contemplate the meaning of dignity and, by extension, Acumen Fund’s work. SF for Acumen’s DIGNITY Photo Auction raised a total of $18,000 – including a premiere corporate sponsorship from Bay Area investment consulting firm Qatalyst Partners – to support Acumen Fund’s investments throughout South Asia and East Africa. On behalf of SF for Acumen, we would like to express sincere thanks to our many supporters, sponsors, volunteers and attendees for helping us make DIGNITY a success and a fantastic evening.
On Saturday, August 7, 130 guests gathered at Gallery 16, a modern art gallery in downtown San Francisco. The event featured both the Nuru Project photo auction exhibit – a collection of 29 striking prints donated by renowned photographers – as well as a special exhibition of photographs taken by Acumen Fund fellows (Sophie Forbes, Heidi Krauel, Joel Montgomery, Nicole Orillac, and Karthik Janakiraman). The prints on exhibit highlighted the intersection of development and dignity, and were selected to illuminate Acumen Fund’s mission of giving dignity, not dependence, and choice, not charity, to the communities and individuals its investments serve.
The event began with a VIP cocktail session that offered guests the chance to mingle with Acumen Fund Director of Communications Yasmina Zaidman, Metrics Manager Brad Presner and former Acumen Fund Fellows Heidi Krauel, Nicole Orillac, Karthik Janakiraman and Jocelyn Wyatt. The VIP session was followed by brief introductions made by Yasmina Zaidman and Heidi Krauel. Their inspiring words set the stage for the photo auction against the compelling backdrop of Acumen Fund’s mission and impact of enabling people to lead lives of dignity, not dependence.
Following Yasmina and Heidi’s introduction, we were very excited to have Judd Wallenbrock, our wine sponsor and owner of Humanitas Wines, take a few moments to talk about his personal mission to strengthen local communities through wine making. With a motto of “Drink Charitably” and a mandate to donate a portion of his company’s profits to local charities, Humanitas Wines was a fitting partner for our event. Anchoring the event were the live and silent auctions. Wes Sparling, from the auction house Bonhams & Butterfield, led the live auction with gusto. An hour-long silent auction followed. All told, the prints sold for nearly $7,000 in the live and silent auctions.
DIGNITY would not have been possible without our incredible sponsors and volunteers. Delicious appetizers were provided by Bi-Rite Market, Rotee, Back to Earth Catering and Bushido and vibrant beats were brought to us by DJ Odiaka hailing from Oakland. As SF for Acumen grows roots in the Bay Area, it is incredibly motivating and humbling to be offered so much support from our community members.
SF for Acumen’s summer DIGNITY event was Nuru Project’s first show outside New York and the second in a series of eight global DIGNITY Photo Auction Benefits hosted by Acumen Fund Chapters in support of Acumen Fund.
Special thanks again to Qatalyst Partners, our premiere corporate sponsor.
Mediha Abdulhay and Carrie Ting are SF for Acumen Chapter Leaders.
Tags: AF Fellows, community, Events, sffa
Congratulations Mediha, Carrie & the rest of the SF for Acumen Chapter for putting on such a successful event!
Congrats San Francisco! Sounds like it was a great event and what a success!!