San Francisco Bay Gala

Bay.org celebrated the beautiful San Francisco Bay at its 6^th annual San Francisco Bay Gala, Soundwaves, on October 21, 2016. Some 500 supporters gathered at Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 for the sunset, live music, cocktails and dinner, followed by an afterparty at Wipeout Bar and Grill. The event raised more than $200,000 for bay.org’s mission to protect, restore, and inspire conservation of San Francisco Bay.

Guests mingled among sharks, river otters, jellies, and some 20,000 more animals at Aquarium of the Bay. Bay.org board chair Ben Bleiman shared information about the challenges facing San Francisco Bay and its surrounding ecosystems, and how everyone can help.

Scenes from San Francisco Bay Gala at Aquarium of the Bay:

Melanie Hoefer and Patricia Dassios

Angelique Tompkins and Adam Swig

Dustin Daza and Beth Spotswood

Mickey Bruce experiencing on of the Aquarium of the Bay’s touch pools

Karen Baird and Brian Baird

Guests explore Aquarium of the Bay’s underwater tunnels

Support of the San Francisco Bay Gala helps bay.org provide free hands-on learning experiences to tens of thousands of local students — the next generation of environmental champions — provide high-quality care for each of the 20,000 watershed animal ambassadors at Aquarium of the Bay, and fund wetland research and restoration for scientists at The Bay Institute.