BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE GALA

Thursday, September 28, 2023, 6 p.m.

The Historic Klamath on Pier 9, San Francisco

Greenbelt Alliance is Celebrating 65 years of Protecting People and Nature!

Join Greenbelt Alliance in celebrating 65 years of success in protecting natural and working lands and advocating for smart-growth development throughout the Bay Area. The event includes a cocktail reception on the Klamath’s rooftop garden with 360 views of the bay area, live music, an elegant dinner catered by Chef Robert Dorsey, and an opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind live auction experiences around the region with the “singing auctioneer,” Ellen Toscano.

blueprint for the future EVENT hIGHLIGHTS

Our Resilience Rockstar: Thriving Communities Award Honoree

We are proud to honor Kat Taylor as this year's Resilience Rockstar. As a passionate and fearless advocate for the environment, Kat is helping create an inclusive and sustainable Bay area for all. From regenerative agriculture to fostering equitable community development, her commitment to bold, on-the-ground solutions is exactly what our region needs. In partnership with communities across the United States, Kat works in service of restoring social, racial, and gender justice and environmental well-being for an equitable and inclusive world. We are honored to celebrate her work this year.

About the Chef

Chef Robert Dorsey

Chef Robert Dorsey’s culinary roots run deep. Literally. His first food memories include helping his grandmother in her vegetable garden as a child. Since the days in his grandmother’s garden, Chef Dorsey has honed his craft in some of the finest Bay Area restaurants. His first Executive Chef position was at the Elysium Café in San Francisco. Soon after, Dorsey was invited to become a chef at the storied Bay Wolf Restaurant in Oakland. In 2014, he founded Robert Dorsey Catering & Events. The team at Robert Dorsey Catering & Events (RDCE) is deeply rooted in the community and community building. As a black-owned business based in Oakland, they believe that it’s their responsibility to give back, mentor, and be a source of good will.

About the Auctioneer

Ellen Toscano

After graduating with a BFA in drama and music from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ellen Toscano performed for 10 years in the world’s longest running musical review, San Francisco’s “Beach Blanket Babylon.” Upon leaving “Beach Blanket Babylon,” Ellen began her work as a fundraising consultant, charity auctioneer and emcee in 2016 combining her two greatest passions: performing and helping others. Known as “The Singing Auctioneer,” she’s been known to bust out a song or two during an event. Follow Ellen on Facebook or Instagram @thesingingauctioneer.

Host Committee

Terry Gamble Boyer

Lynne Deegan-McGraw

Patricia Dinner

Linda Jo Fitz

Joshua Hurwitz

JaMel Perkins

Lydia Shorenstein

Laney Thornton

Diane Wilsey

Stephanie Southwick

Thank You to Our Current Sponsors

Lead Sponsors

JaMel and Tom Perkins | Laney and Pasha Thorton | Danielle Walker

Community Collaboration Sponsors

Conservation Education Sponsors

Stefan Bewley | Will Evers and Melinda Ellis Evers | Linda Jo Fitz | Stephen and Maribelle Leavitt | Diane Wilsey

Natural Lands Sponsors

To thank you for your sponsorship, we’ve teamed up with Bay Area wineries and farms to bring you a special monthly gift from the greenbelt, and to help support local agriculture. We want to ensure the region’s farms, ranches, and small family businesses continue to thrive.