Thank you to all of the Tim Griffith Foundation supporters who purchased raffle tickets! And congratulations to Gabe Maldonado who purchased the winning ticket from the Police Athletic League. Our Foundation raised over $8500.00 from raffle ticket sales, and the raffle has become a real Independence Day tradition as a great fund-raiser. Thanks to all of our volunteers who sold tickets, set up booths, licked envelopes and talked us up! The money raised will help all of our clients!

Thank you to our dedicated group of volunteers made up of many friends of TGF, members of Bridges, Tim's House and San Jose State University Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity (PIKES).

This year's Nancy Harris Volunteer of the Year recognition went to Teresa Bowerman, now a two-time winner of this award. She was honored because of her expert solicitation of auction items, and without her we wouldn't have many of the amazing items available. She it truly talented, and we are fortunate to have her support.

We'd like to also recognize a few of our volunteers who took a lead role in the Gala:

*This year the PIKES volunteers outsold last years' group in raffle ticket sales! The bar is raised again for next year!
*A special thanks to Derek Ytreeide and the crew from Riverview Systems Group, Inc. who manage to out-do themselves year-after-year with top of the line audio and visual services.
*A talented and creative friend of the Foundation, Anthony Berk, has produced our Gala videos the last two years, and manages our facebook page.
*Alexander Wang our event photographer.
*Eric Snyder our event emcee and Mike Nevin, Karen Francone, and Steve Bowerman our event auctioneers.
*Shawna, Dave, and Ward who coordinate the Annual Croquet (or bowling!) Tournament.
*Lisa Baffi who has been our Event Manager during the last five Galas works wonders behind-the-scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly.

And thank you to many more who helped with auction set-up, decorations, check-in, raffle ticket sales, wine sales, runners, valets, check-out, data entry and more! Your willing spirits are inspirational!

Fashion show gives Saratoga High students the chance to help others
Story from Saratoga News

By Brian Babcock
bbabcock@community-newspapers.com
Posted: 03/29/2010 07:33:17 PM PDT
Updated: 03/29/2010 07:33:17 PM PDT

Organizers of Saratoga High School's benefit fashion show know that they're lucky to attend the school they do and to live in such a safe and affluent city. But they also recognize that not everyone is as fortunate.

That's why all proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation, which runs a halfway house for recovering drug addicts, supports mothers who have unexpectedly lost an adult child and promotes anti-violence.

The April 24 event has meant a lot to those involved, said Paxton Barco, 17, one of the fashion show's organizers. But she added that she hopes the event is also important to the community.

"The community should come out and realize how this could help change not just one kid's life, but is going toward a foundation that is going to turn more kids' lives around," Paxton said.

Organizers say Saratoga High students aren't insulated from drug abuse.

"We're in this amazing school, but there is definitely that group that [uses drugs]," said Alexis Francis, also an event organizer.

The 10th annual fashion show involves 110 students who will model 10 themes in the high school's quad. Themes include the prom, a first date, "bromance," a girls night out, sportswear, along with college, winter and spring attire.

Teachers' children will also be modeling for the toddler theme, organizers said.

Some of the fashions on display have been donated by Kitsch Couture, PacSun, Northface, Lulu Lemon and others. Michael Anthony Salon, located in Saratoga's Village, will style hair for some of the models.

Guests will also be able to bid on gifts baskets that include Apple and beauty products during a silent auction.

No matter how much money is raised, all of it will be a benefit to the foundation, said Stacey Redman, one of the founders of the memorial foundation and the mother of Tim Griffith, who was stabbed to death in the parking lot at AT&T Park in September 2004, the same night that Barry Bonds hit his 700th home run.

"I think this and many other acts of kindness that people have done for us is what really has gotten me through. These are kids that I don't really know. So to me it shows that there's much more goodness in the world than there is anger and violence," Redman said.

Redman said she was grateful that the school had picked her foundation knowing that there are so many other choices and only a limited amount of money out there to donate.

"We've struggled with it," said Redman, referring to the foundation's board members. "Where do you focus your efforts? Because there's a whole lot of people who need help, and it can become really overwhelming."

Donations to the foundation will help support Tim's House, a transitional housing unit for 18- to 30-year-old men who have gone through San Mateo County's Bridges drug-treatment program.

Of everything the foundation does, Redman said, her son would have been most excited about the house. Tim would regularly bring home friends to hang with that he made during his time in the Bridges program.

"I can so clearly remember asking Tim, 'So why don't they live with their parents or at home?' And he probably rolled his eyes at the time and said, 'Well, mom, not everybody has a home to go to,' " Redman said.

Kelsey Berryhill, 17, an event organizer, said she hopes one day people won't have to deal with what Redman and her family had to deal with.

"I've seen a friend go through it, and I want to help more kids get sober," Kelsey said.

Tickets cost $15 to $25 and can be purchased by contacting June Lamm at 408.867.3411, ext. 203. Those who would like to donate to the silent auction can do so by calling Karen Hyde at 408.867.3411, ext. 208, or dropping the items off at the Saratoga High School, 20300 Herriman Ave.

A generous supporter of Tim Griffith Foundation, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased 200 raffle tickets and donated them back to the Foundation. Yesterday, at the Redwood City 4th of July Celebration, the winning ticket was chosen out of a barrel of approximately 18,000 tickets. The President of the Redwood City Rotary Club, Pete Liebengood, read out the name of the winner and announced it was TIM GRIFFITH FOUNDATION! One of the 200 donated tickets purchased by our anonymous angel was the winning raffle ticket! At first, Stacey Redman, Carolyn Yates, Denise Harvey and LeAnn Kanowsky along with other board members and volunteers were too stunned to react. But the cheering and shouting began as it sunk in that the Foundation will receive the $18,000 prize for Tim's House! Each year the Redwood City Rotary Club selects ten charitable organizations to sell raffle tickets with all proceeds going directly to each partcipating charity. Thank you to all of our supporters who purchased tickets from the Foundation, we hope you can feel a part of this amazing win for the Foundation. A special thank you to the Redwood City Rotary club for selecting us to participate, and to Mick Clarke who introduced the Foundation to the Redwood City Rotatry Club!

Congratulations to Team Wilson who took first place with a score of 55, and to all teams who participated in the golf tournament at Los Lagos Golf Club in San Jose. Team Clarke took 2nd with a 58, and Team Redman 3rd with a 60. Mick Clarke won closest to the pin, Duarte Lemos won accuracy, Jack Klein won long drive, and Ann Moreira won women’s accuracy. Over 70 people golfed and enjoyed a post-tournament BBQ and Raffle. A special celebration was held for the tournament organizer, Marty Redman and his wife who celebrated their 40th Wedding anniversary that day! Go to the Photos and Videos tab on this site to view more photos in the Photos Galleries!

The first Meadowlark Mother's retreat was held in April of this year for 10 mothers who have experienced the sudden loss of a child.

Carolyn Yates donated the use of Grace Ranch in Graton, CA, and grace was truly recieved. It was a comforting and peaceful setting for mothers to participate in the grief work that was expertly facilitated by Leslie Chin and Shelly Gillan. Here's a note of thanks from one of the mothers: "To simply say "Thank You" would never come close to the overwhelming gratitude I have for all of you who have allowed us mothers to gather in a beautiful, safe place to continue our very difficult journey of losing our children."

Meadowlark Retreat is sponsored by the Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation and supported by Kara www.kara-grief.org. Because of your generous support we are able to offer this unique service in our community. For more information about Meadowlark, please contact Stacey Redman at stacey.redman@gmail.com.

Thank you to the Redwood City Rotary club for their generous donation to TGMF to help fund the Meadowlark Retreat.

The Harvest Moon Gala was a smashing success! Over 250 people attended the special evening at the San Mateo Elk's Lodge. The abundance of the fall season was realized as $80,000 was raised to continue supporting those affected by addiction, violence and loss.

The annual croquet tournament was called because of rain, and the party was moved to the bowling alley. Everyone had a great time with high score going to Cristine Cunningham.

We all watched the final inning of the Giants and Phillies game on the stage big screens and cheered when the Giants clinched the National Leaque Championship!

A moving testimonial was heard from Maria Segal who shared her appreciation for the support she received during a Meadowlark Retreat, and a vocal performance was given by Patrick McCauley who wrote a special song for the evening .

We had a very successful Fund-A-Need portion of the Live Auction, thanks in large part to a $10,000 matching gift from the Yates and Schuster families.

And finally, as a reminder of why the work we do is important, We'd like to share this story: While we were all enjoying the Gala and the Giant's success Wendy, the Tim's House intake manager, interviewed and accepted a young man into Tim's House under the Bridges drug treatment program. October 23rd was his first night in the house. He has a child whom he has not seen for quite some time, as he has been incarcerated. He was involved in a gang and wants to change his life. His Probation Officer and Wendy feel he can.

Thank you for your continued support - together we are making a meaningful difference in our communities.