With guests in neon and hosts in dayglow, this year’s “Noche de La Luz” fundraiser was an extravaganza of color and light. The result was a beautiful shade of green – the August 6 bash at the Sonoma Veterans Building raised over $450,000 for the La Luz Center, funding programs to educate and assist Valley families in need.
The tone was set by a beautiful young couple clothed in florescent paint posed for souvenir photos with guests during the cocktail hour. Watermelon martinis with Skyy vodka and Highway 12 wines flowed freely. Caterer Elaine Bell’s multi-colored hors d’oeuvres included mini bahn mi, quesadillas, and green cardamom shrimp along with a trio of colorful soups.
Guests were wowed as they entered the dining area that was magically transformed into a psychedelic dream experience. Glow-stick jewelry, flashing top hats of committee members, tables set with black cloths and blue LED lights added to the magic.
Sheila Whitney Stanford sang “Being Alive”, and Marcelo Defreitas (at center), the event’s creator, producer and current La Luz Board President, joined in and welcomed the crowd.
“I stand in this room filled with the most caring and generous people of this community,” he said. “Once again, year after year, I plead that you continue to join me in this effort to make our community more diverse and more inclusive. One where every resident feels like he or she belongs.”
Juan Hernandez, ED of La Luz, introduced 11-year-old Fernanda Alvarez, daughter of La Luz clients, whose “dream is to be a singer.” Fernanda wowed the crowd with her rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb,” then broke into tears as she hugged Marcelo, “the man with the biggest heart in Sonoma.”
A highlight of the evening’s entertainment was an extraordinary performance by Lightwire Theater based in New Orleans. Guests were captivated by the performance of dancers and puppets lit up in a darkened room appeared as flying birds or oversized mythical animals. As has become tradition, as the finale to the party, guests took the stage for dancing to the music of DJ Jefferson Espinosa.
“La Luz is grateful to all the donors who help support their services, which ensure that Sonoma Valley residents facing all types of challenges have the opportunity to improve their lives,” said Boardmember Vicki Stollmeyer (at left). “They focus on providing upstream skills to educate and empower our community and are a catalyst for change through programs for health, education and financial security.”
Photos by William Murray
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