Davis Street Opera Night a Success

raised more than $72,000 during its recent 10th Annual Opera Night at restaurant.

The fundraiser, emceed by television and radio personality (and San Leandro resident) Brian Copeland, sold out, with about 110 attendees despite the evening's pouring rain.

Event-goers at the May 16 black-tie affair enjoyed a "martini mingle" before sitting down for dinner to a background of live opera. Each guest received a mask made by children at Davis Street's child development centers, located at its headquarters and at Garfield, Jefferson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools.

Davis Street Executive Director Rose Padilla Johnson and Board President Gordon Galvan gave tribute to the night’s honoree, Paradiso restaurant owner and Davis Street board member Michael Wiesner, for envisioning the opera night 10 years ago and for supporting the event each year since then.

Since it began, the event has raised more than $680,000 for Davis Street’s health clinics and family support services.

Representatives from the offices of State Senator Ellen Corbett and Assemblymember Mary Hayashi presented Davis Street and Wiesner with proclamations commemorating the 10th annual event.

The event had several sponsors, including Eden Township Healthcare District, Fremont Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Kraft Foods, Madison Marquette (owner of Bayfair Center), McDermott Costa Insurance Brokers and PG&E.

Johnson thanked the sponsors for their "unwavering support over the years.” Private funding is becoming increasingly important for the organization in the midst of state and local budget cuts, plus higher demand for its services, she said.

Davis Street provides services to about 5,000 people each month.