On Oct. 12, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin hosted its annual gala, Pennies from Heaven, at the Meadow Club in Fairfax.
The elegant, sold-out event was attended by 210 benefactors, including Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli, and raised more than $600,000 for SVdP’s programs and services feeding the hungry and housing the homeless in Marin County.
An elegant affair
The evening started out with a wide selection of fine wines provided by Emeritus Vineyard, Peter Paul Wines, Lynmar Estate, Rockpile Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Franklin Son Pere and Croix Estates. Vermont Spirits Distilling Company, Salt Point and HenHouse Brewing and Sausalito Liquor Co. stocked the libations for the evening.
Guests also enjoyed an oyster bar prepared by Hog Island Oyster Co., and a selection of cheeses and caviar from Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and The Caviar Company.
Exotic and enviable auction prizes
Following dinner, guests bid on a long list of exquisite live auction items including international travel packages to exotic locations such as Bali, Hawaii, South Africa and Costa Rica, chef dinners from Insalatas and Il Davide, and a personal wine cellar curated by Leslie Sbrocco, host of “Check Please Bay Area.” One lucky patron walked away with the evening’s plum raffle prize, “Date Night for a Year,” consisting of one dozen $100 gift certificates to restaurants in Marin.
Later, guests were able to enjoy a cigar lounge, courtesy of Telford’s Pipe & Cigar Lounge.
“St. Vincent de Paul is so blessed to have amazing benefactors who believe in and support our mission feeding the hungry as well as housing those experiencing homelessness,” said Chief Philanthropy Officer Kathleen Woodcock. “All of the money we raise at Pennies from Heaven allows us to support our clientele on an even deeper level. We are so grateful to our community.”
The next Pennies from Heaven Gala will take place Oct. 11, 2025. For more information on St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin and the work it does to support 8,000 individuals annually, including its 365-days-a-year free dining room and other programs for the homeless and vulnerable, please visit vinnies.org.
Photos: Steven Gregory Photography
A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.
