Los Gatos Community Foundation CATillion Helps 'Light Up The Town'

More than 100 people attended the Los Gatos Community Foundation's eighth annual CATillion fundraising dinner and dance Saturday evening Nov. 3 at La Rinconada Country Club under the theme “Light up the Town and All That Jazz!"

Those in attendance included Los Gatos Vice Mayor Barbara Spector, Council member Joe Pirzynski and former Los Gatos Mayor Randy Attaway. Los Gatos Mayor Steve Rice didn't attend, but donated to the event's silent auction—golf for three people that he will host at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz.

LGCF Executive Director Sharon Childs said the fundraiser had two major sponsors this year—attorney Roger Mason of and Los Gatos Meadows.

Childs praised the law firm for being the event's major sponsor for the past five years. "They have always supported causes in the Los Gatos area so it is very special having them as a sponsor particularly because the LGCF mission is to raise money for the enhancement of the Los Gatos community," Childs said.

This was the first year Los Gatos Meadows sponsored the event. Other Sponsors included Callahan Real Estate Group, Chicago Title, Liz Floyd, Custom Senior Care, Eric Eberle, Eric S. Childs, CPA, Janice McCabe Interior Design, Peak Travel, Jan Morris, Poyner & Poyner LLP, Jessica Poyner, Randal Nelson Properties, Tour Factory, Darrell Monda, Towne Business & Tax Services, Mike Destro, and We’ve Got Your Back, Rita Marcojohn.

This year the fundraiser had an additional feature to its silent and live auctions, “Last Light Burning.” The idea came from CATillion Chair Jan Morris to raise funds to help the town relight the 154 trees along Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Los Gatos with energy saving LED lights.

The concept is similar to a “Last Person Standing,” where foundation leaders asked everyone interested in making a donation to the town's Tree Lighting Project to stand. The bidding continued to go higher until the last person standing who donated the most amount won a prize, explained Childs. 

The LGCF immediate past president is Janice McCabe, who presented an award to Morris. Current foundation president Duino Giordano couldn't be present as he has been deployed by the Red Cross to the East Coast to help with rescue efforts in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, Childs said.