Adopt a Special Kid House Jewelry Party

About 100 guests visited Vali Ebert’s home to celebrate the second annual Adopt a Special Kid House Jewelry Party on April 30. Several jewelers attended to demonstrate their wares, and a hand masseuse offered a bit of pampering. Other activities included a silent auction and raffle. Wines were donated by JC Cellars, and the proceeds from the event go towards Camp Always, a camp in the Santa Cruz redwoods for 125 adoptive parents and their children. aask.org

Diamond in the Rough

Park lovers and politicos turned out in force on May 22 to see the Temescal Regional Recreation Area shine like a polished gem. The occasion was the 75th anniversary of the East Bay Regional Park District and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Regional Parks Foundation. Guests noshed and imbibed goodies outdoors during a silent auction and then moved indoors for a three-course meal and two anniversary cakes. During the live auction, MC Doug McConnell motivated the crowd to bid on EBRP-led private expeditions for a good cause — the foundation’s Campership Program to produce scholarships for low-income youngsters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. www.ebparks.org, www.regionalparksfoundation.org

Heart of Gold Ball

Alameda’s Area 51 played host to hundreds of local socialites and members of the medical community at the April 28 Heart of Gold Ball benefiting the American Heart Association. Guests enjoyed dancing, fine dining and live music at this black-tie event raising money for education programs to fight the Bay Area’s No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death, heart disease and stroke. The association hopes to raise $1.5 million this year. www.americanheart.org. Photogrpahy by Lewis Smith.

ACCFB Empty Bowls Fundraiser 2010

The Alameda County Community Food Bank celebrated its fifth annual Empty Bowls event on June 3 at the ACCFB warehouse in Oakland. More than 330 people attended the event, which included a silent auction, soup from the SF Soup Company and ice cream from Fenton’s Creamery. Gary Lapow provided the entertainment for this family-centric event, which was designed to introduce children to community service. www.accfb.org

East Bay College Fund Great Expectations Award

The East Bay College Fund hosted its eighth annual Great Expectations Awards Ceremony on May 25 at Preservation Park in downtown Oakland. More than 200 guests, many of whom were mentors and volunteers for the program, attended the event, which awarded 25 scholarships to Oakland public high school graduates who will be attending colleges throughout the country. The proceedings were emceed by Sharon Chin of CBS 5 and featured Pearl Fryar in the keynote presentation. www.eastbaycollegefund.org

60 Years of Fairyland

Princesses, knights and fairies converged on Fairyland on June 3 for 60 Years of Magic, a celebration of Fairyland’s 60th anniversary that drew more than 300 guests. The event featured a buffet provided by local eateries and wineries. Many guests dressed in fairy tale costumes and blended well with the performers, Critters by the Bay. Other entertainment included a silent auction, a puppet show and music by Big Money in Jazz. www.fairyland.org