Lights, Camera, Healing!

Marisa Wachaorst, Alli Murdoff, Cara Klein

Rocky table design by Jane Donahue and Alli Murdoff

Baykids Filmmakers Victoria and Eve

Suzy Lester, Antonia Cohen, Nicola Schilling

Sherry Jarrett, Lauren Altbaier, Alison Caron, Heather Krumins, Jana Arbanas, Kelsey Armstrong, Julie Dougery, Allison Keenan, Rudolf, Lia McBride

Lights, Camera, Healing! Baykids Studios third annual benefit luncheon featured three courageous filmmakers and 21 tables inspired by Hollywood movies. Co-chairs Suzy Lester and Alison Caron organized the Hollywood-style party on behalf of Women in Motion, Baykids’ auxiliary that supports its mission to empower children facing medical challenges. Some 225 supporters attended the event on March 9, 2016, at Alexandra’s atop the Westin St. Francis Hotel, Union Square.

Baykids innovative program gives each child the opportunity to tell his or her personal story through the art of filmmaking. Over 5,000 children and families have participated in Baykids, founded by Dave Spencer in 1997.

Local celebrities Hooman Khalili and Marcus Osborne from Alice@97.3 emceed the signature event that included a competition for the best table design. Many guests arrived Hollywood-ready in costumes that celebrated and reinforced their table themes. The winners:

1st place: School of Rock by Kim Turner and Deanna Verhoeven
2nd place: Dangerous Liaisons by Renee Fitzpatrick and Patrice Wilbur
3rd place: Joy Luck Club by Lisa Grotts
Honorable mention: Psycho by Mark Wade

Scenes from Lights, Camera, Healing!:

Patrice Wilbur, Renee Fitzpatrick

Dangerous Liaisons by Renee Fitzpatrick and Patrice Wilbur

Renee Fitzpatrick, Sharon Shaw, Zabrina Adas

Psycho by Mark Wade

Table designed by Mark Wade

Krista Giovara, Jenny Schaffer, Liz Kahn, Kimberly Hooker, Jen Elliott, Kelly Scandalios, Claire Wolfenden, Margi Power

Sound of Music by Alex Caban and Bettina Mirsepahi

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by Billy Harris

Billy Harris’s Lord of the Rings troupe

School of Rock by Kim Turner and Deanna Verhoeven

Denee Berliner, Gina Gambrioli

Lisa Essa, Mary Ann Fehr, Usha Burns, Patty O’Brien, Debra Leylegian, Shannon Cronan, Lisa Grotts, Valerie Toler, Trish Otstott

Table Designs:
Alice in Wonderland by Shawna Droese
Bend it Like Bekham by Rebecca Kanter and Devora Kothari
Casino Royale by Dina Jackson and Suzy Lester
Cleopatra by Kelly Bligh and Amy Underwood
Dangerous Liaisons by Renee Fitzpatrick and Patrice Wilbur
Grand Budapest Hotel by Criss de Guzman and Celine Shimizu
Great Gatsby by Kim Hughes, Karen Mason, Keara Meyercord and Becky Selna
Joy Luck Club by Lisa Grotts
League of Their Own by Jana Arbanas, Alison Caron and Allison Keenan
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by Billy Harris
Memoirs of a Geisha by Kim Hooker, Liz Kahn and Jen Ullyot
Pretty Woman by Carin Fradin and Julie Veit
Psycho by Mark Wade
Rio by Jill Burns, Shawna Droese and Holly Lawson
Rocky by Jane Donahue and Alli Murdoff
Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s by Wendy Bolton and Stacey Dobos
School of Rock by Kim Turner and Deanna Verhoeven
Sideways by Dina Jackson and Suzy Lester
Sound of Music by Alex Caban and Bettina Mirsepahi
Star Wars by Lucasfilm
Up in the Air by Baykids Studios Board Members

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

— Related: Red Carpet Bay Area coverage of more Women in Motion events for BayKids

• BayKids’ Women in Motion 4th Annual Luncheon (2017)
• BayKids Studios Film Style Luncheon (2015)
• BayKids’ Women in Motion Luncheon (2013)