CELEBRITY AMBASSADORS ROSARIO DAWSON AND MAGGIE GRACE HOST 9TH ANNUAL GORGEOUS AND GREEN GALA – THE GREEN GATSBY – BENEFITING GLOBAL GREEN USA
San Francisco’s sold-out gala unites eco-conscious celebrities and Bay Area luminaries for a swank evening benefiting Global Green’s sustainability initiatives, programs and critical projects
San Francisco, October 15 – On Friday, October 11, 2013, Global Green USA’s 9th annual Gorgeous and Green Gala – The Green Gatsby – was held at the LEED-certified Bently Reserve and celebrated designer eco-fashion, sustainable technologies and eco-conscious initiatives. The sold-out event raised over $350,000 from the evening’s ticket sales and live auction which will benefit Global Green USA and its ongoing efforts to help the places, people and planet in need. The event showcased Global Green’s unique approach to Green Schools that integrates catalytic projects, transformative policy and cutting-edge research.
Green Gatsby décor at the Bently Reserve
“We were thrilled with the outcome of this year’s Gorgeous and Green Gala and are grateful to all of the sponsors and participants who made this year’s Green Gatsby celebration possible. Each year we strive to provide support and recognition for companies who are dedicated to enhancing and maintaining our precious environment for future generations, and this year was no exception,” said Richard Wegman, Interim Executive Director of Global Green USA.
Co-chairs and environmental advocates Zem Joaquin, Nadine Weil and Christopher Bently, alongside Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles, Board Member and Founding Executive Director of Global Green Matt Petersen, and Global Green Interim Executive Director, Richard Wegman, welcomed guests to the lavish Green Gatsby gala, a “Great Gatsby” inspired event festooned with sustainable art deco design, silky fabrics and sparkling motifs curated by Blueprint Studios. Acclaimed actresses and honorary hosts Rosario Dawson and Maggie Grace attended the event and lent their support towards Global Green’s mission. Other notable attendees included actor Peter Coyote; Twitter co-founder Evan Williams; Replete Inc. and Lions Gate Corporation founder Elisabeth Thieriot; Princess Fati Farmanfarmaian; Preventive Medicine Research Institute president and founder Dr. Dean Ornish; CMO of eBay Richelle Parham; Founder of The 11th Hour Project of the Schmidt Family Foundation Wendy Schmidt; author of “Your Network is Your Net Worth” and public speaker Porter Gale; technology entrepreneur Eric Greenberg and wife, Carmel; raw food chef Roxanne Klein; and philanthropists Gina and Dave Pell, Shannon Bavaro, Peter Getty and Vanessa Getty. Additional Global Green Board Members in attendance included former President and CEO of the Paley Center for Media Pat Mitchell, Former Chair Scott Seydel and Managing Director and Senior Credit Officer of Rabobank, Ian Reece.
Co-chair Zem Joaquin, Actress Maggie Grace, Global Green’s Christiana Wyly, and Co-chair Nadine Weil
During the festive fete, Eco-Accolades were awarded to prominent local businesses, Intel, Adobe and The PlumpJack Group based on each company’s achievements and superior commitment to sustainability. Intel was recognized for its industry-leading green power purchases that offset 100% of its U.S. electricity use, Adobe was honored for their exemplary green building and energy efficiency projects, and The PlumpJack Group was celebrated for their LEED Gold-certified properties CADE Estate Winery and the forthcoming Odette. Awards were accepted on behalf of each company by Suzanne Fallender of Intel, David Wadhwani of Adobe as well as Hilary Newsom Callan of The PlumpJack Group.
Actresses and Honorary Hosts Maggie Grace and Rosario Dawson
“Zem and I were so delighted to co-chair the Gorgeous and Green Gala together for our ninth year,” stated Nadine Weil, founder of Heart of Green. “Our goal was to show that you can live the decadent Gatsby lifestyle, and it can be completely eco-conscious from the fashion, to the décor, to the delectable speakeasy cocktails. Gatsby believed in the green light, and we too believe in a bright green future for all.”
“The event exceeded our extremely high expectations, and we cannot thank our fabulous supporters enough,” said Zem Joaquin, editor at large of Home and Lifestyle for Huffington Post and founder of ecofabulous.com. “We were also honored to recognize Adobe, Intel and PlumpJack Group for their exceptional focus on sustainability with Eco-Accolades, while celebrating the life-affirming work that we are doing at Global Green every day.”
The benefit featured exclusive musical performances by Eoin Harrington of RH Music playing a Gatsby medley with Kelly McFarling, and Ken Jordan of The Crystal Method, as well as a lively dance performance of the Charleston by the Decobelles. Guests were treated to an elegant locally-sourced organic meal including hors d’oeuvres by Taste Catering and dinner prepared with organic and sustainable ingredients by Michelin-starred chef Ken Frank of La Toque in Napa, CA. including pasture-raised meat from the local Five Dot Ranch and organic squash from the chef’s own garden. Chef Frank’s menu included Caulifower Horseradish Velouté with Lobster and Tender Vegetables and Five Dot Short Rib Braised in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Fiscalini Pearls and Root Vegetables as well as a vegan entrée of Organic Lunga di Napoli Squash with Red Curry, Coconut Milk, Piopinni Mushrooms and Candied Eggplant. Delectable desserts such as macarons, shortbread cookies, caramels, toffee and mini tartlettes were presented by Miette, all made with organic ingredients. Paired wine selections included varietals from Wente Vineyards, Chiarello Family Vineyards, LargeTwins Vineyards and Chateau Leoube. The entire Green Gatsby event was a target zero waste event with greening assistance by Taste Catering.
The eco-couture fashion show, styled by Lily Achatz and produced by Clarissa Nicosia, glamorously invoked the Great Gatsby era and showcased models by Stars Model Management in vintage couture 1920s looks from Decades of Fashion in San Francisco, eBay Green, Torso Vintages, and Rose La Mer, as well as bespoke suits from The Artful Gentleman and eco-conscious gowns from Cari Borja. Also starring on the runway was America’s oldest clothier, Brooks Brothers, who outfitted F. Scott Fitzgerald in his day and created the men’s costumes for the recent blockbuster movie The Great Gatsby. Pureology, Chantecaille and Saks Fifth Avenue provided hair and makeup for the runway show and worked their magic on actresses Rosario Dawson and Maggie Grace to give them fabulous 1920-era looks for the Jazz Age celebration. Select looks from the Green Gatsby fashion show will be available to purchase via eBay Green at www.greengatsbyauction.com with proceeds benefiting Global Green USA.
The Gorgeous and Green Gala’s exclusive after party was held at San Francisco’s stylish new restaurant and bar, ROKA BAR at Roka Akor San Francisco. Executive Chef Roman Petry prepared a selection of bites using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients including a Charred Heirloom Tomato Salad with Black Garlic and Wasabi and Locally Sourced Tomatoes from Happy Boy Farms, All Natural Lamb Cutlets with Korean Spice and a Chef’s Selection Nigiri, all paired with Bar Manager Jason Huffman’s signature cocktail of the evening, 360 Organic Vodka Yuzu Lemonade. Party guests such as actress Rosario Dawson, event co-founders Zem Joaquin and Nadine Weil, actor Steve Connell, musician Eoin Harrington and Ken Jordan of The Crystal Method, enjoyed the remainder of the evening sipping, noshing and dancing at the vibrant nightlife destination.
Global Green’s work in California includes advocating for funding streams to green schools such as Proposition 39 and providing technical assistance to San Francisco Unified School District. “We have proven that this unique approach works and we are ready to scale. We want to grow our impact exponentially. In the next 20 years, with public support – through policy, awareness, scalable tools and education – together we can upgrade every school in America, and improve the health and academic performance of millions of children,” stated Board Member Christiana Wyly as she presented the organization’s work to guests.
Featured sponsors include: Bently Enterprises, The 11th Hour Project of the Schmidt Family Foundation, Adobe Systems, PG&E, NRG, ecofabulous, Decades of Fashion, eBay Green, Earth Friendly Products, Step Into My Green World, Green Fairy and Photo Booth by Catalyst Arts, Le Meridien Hotel, Turtle Island Resort, Post Ranch Inn, Cavallo Point, Las Alamandas Resort, Kohanaiki, Odette Estate Winery, CADE Estate Winery, Hakkasan Beverly Hills, Roka Akor San Francisco, Heart of Green, The Real Real, 360 Organic Vodka, Chiarello Family Vineyards, NapaStyle, Bottega Napa Valley, Chateau Leoube, Wente Vineyards, LangeTwins Vineyards, Lodi Rules, Laughing Glass Cocktails, Masters of Whiskey, MateVeza, Miette, Bulleit Bourbon & Rye, Blueprint Studios, Electronic Music Alliance, PlayItFWD, Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation, and Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.
ABOUT GLOBAL GREEN:
Global Green USA is dedicated to helping the places, the people, and the planet in need through catalytic projects, transformative policy, and cutting-edge research. Global Green USA’s signature programs include greening affordable housing, schools, neighborhoods, and cities as well as rebuilding communities — such as New Orleans and areas of New York and New Jersey — that have suffered from the impacts of climate change, sea level rise, and environmental degradation. Global Green USA is the U.S. affiliate of Green Cross International, which was founded by President Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993 to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future. For more information, visit and follow us at @globalgreen. Contact: Tina Vennegaard 310 581 2700 x118 TVennegaard@globalgreen.org
ABOUT THE BENTLY RESERVE
The Bently Reserve is one of San Francisco’s most prestigious event venues ideal for meetings, special occasions and weddings. With more than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space, this state of the art LEED certified building features a visually stimulating fusion of contemporary and classic San Francisco. Deeply influenced by Greco-Roman architecture, this 1924 Beaux-Arts “Banking Temple” boasts opulent marble, grand staircases, ornate molding and original colorful murals, complemented by contemporary furnishings and state-of-the-art technology. Centrally located in the heart of downtown in San Francisco’s bustling Financial District, the Bently Reserve is surrounded by renowned restaurants, hotels and shopping. It is one mile to the Moscone Convention Center, 14 miles (30 minutes) to San Francisco International Airport and 18.5 miles (40 minutes) to Oakland International Airport. For more information, call (415) 294-2226 or visit www.bentlyreserve.com. For our latest news, visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bentlyreserve and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/bentlyreserve.
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