Fundraiser Brings in Thousands - San Francisco, CA

The 18th Annual Hand to Hand Luncheon presented by Project Open Hand (POH) held at the Fairmont hosted 800 guests and raised $300,000 for the agency's meal and nutrition services.

POH provides food and nourishment to improve the quality of life for the men, women, and children it serves and was founded by Ruth Brinker. Over 150 participating restaurants that take part in Dining Out for Life supported the company last year.

In related news, there will be a "Fiddler on the Roof" group night to benefit the organization at the Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor Street in San Francisco Feb. 16 with an 8 p.m. curtain time. The musical with tunes by Jerry Bock will star Harvey Fierstein.

For more information, go to openhand.org online.

In unrelated event news, the Henderson Public Art Project (HAP) and Call to Artist has a submission deadline of Feb. 19 in Dallas, TX. Reminiscent of the WPA work programs of the 1930s, two developers on Henderson Avenue are sponsoring the program, according to Donna Harris who runs the Intown Mix Dallas website, intownmix.com.

"It's no secret that the east side of Central is a haven for artists and independent folks," states Harris in an email. "The seven sculptures this year and each subsequent year will be chosen by Jury."

Harris wrote that the project is being organized by PhD Candidate Scott Trent from the University of Texas at Dallas and sponsored by Andres Properties and Phoenix Property Company.

For information, email Trent at scott@hendersonartproject.com.

Arts Fifth Avenue will have pizza, film, and a fundraiser Feb. 26, 7 p.m. with an admission charge of $10 suggested donation. All ages are welcome with proceeds benefitting the group. The event takes place at 1628 5th Avenue in Fort Worth, TX and the contact number is 817-923-9500.

The organization is a 501©(3) nonprofit corporation.

For details, look up artsfifthavenue.org.

Artists United for Social Justice are on a Haiti mission to deliver medical supplies and investigate child trafficking with executive director Sandra Kirkpatrick traveling to the country.

In a press release dated Feb. 2, the agency announced that items will be brought to a field hospital in Port au Prince which is desperately low on surgical supplies, medicines, and facilities for new patients.

"During her time in Haiti, Sandra will be investigating the darker picture of child trafficking that has reportedly worsened because of the earthquake resulting in thousands of orphaned, vulnerable children," according to a statement. "Kirkpatrick will also bring comfort and caring in the form of teddy bears for kids who are left with nothing else to cling to."

For additional details, visit AUSJ.org.