Shanti Project, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that each year serves over 2,000 people with breast cancer or HIV/AIDS, hosted a reception to announce plans for it 40th annual gala, Compassion is Universal, on Saturday, October 18th, 2014. Some 100 supporters and sponsors including actor and activist Omar Sharif Jr., Terminator: Genysis director Alan Taylor and storyboard artist Jane Wu attended the launch event on August 4th in the penthouse suite of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
In its 40th year and as the world’s first and oldest peer-support organization of its kind, Shanti Project‘s Compassion is Universal dinner will honor its devoted volunteers, courageous clients and generous supporters. For so many of those clients, Shanti represents the difference between zero and one—facing a life-threatening illness alone or having at least one caring person at his or her side.
Reverend Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani of Gilde Memorial Church will receive Shanti Project’s Nancy Pelosi Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. Compassion is Universal co-chairs are San Francisco designer Ken Fulk and Bahya Oumlil-Murad, founder and publisher of SF Philanthropist; honorary chairs are former American ambassador James C. Hormel and Michael P. Nguyen.
The Compassion is Universal host committee, 2014, includes Heide Betz, Dan Burns, Aubrey Brewster, Mark Calvano, Jamison De Trolio, Joel Goodrich, Ted Hannig, Tom Horn, Daru Kawalkowski, Barbara Klein, Carolyn Lee, Liam Mayclem, Alan Morrell, Rev. David Pace, Janet and Clint Reilly, John Rosin, Donna Sachet, Dede Wilsey, Doug Waggener and Brenda Zarate.
Scenes from the event:
Photos by Drew Altizer Photography
Check Red Carpet Bay Area’s calendar for more events.