By Carolyn Barnes

On Sept. 22, a huge white tent sprouted in the meadow and almost 500 people gathered to salute Hidden Villa’s 2001 Humanitarian Awards honorees. Guests toured the new sustainable Wolken Education Center and Hostel buildings, then festively promenaded to the dinner tent.

Recipients of this year’s Humanitarian Awards were architect William McDonough, a winner of the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development and designer of three “green” corporate headquarters on the Peninsula; Mary Curtis Davey, former Hidden Villa Board president and a legendary volunteer for a wide variety of mid-Peninsula organizations; and Marthelia Hargrove, principal of Costano School (grades K-8) in the Ravenswood School District, East Palo Alto, named National Principal of the Year for 2000-2001 by the National Alliance of Black School Educators.

“The Duvenecks’ respect for humane values and their respect for the environment are more relevant today than ever before,” McDonough said in his acceptance speech (delivered via video, as he was unable to make the cross-country flight from his Virginia home).

“This is a magical place of peace, tranquillity and serenity because of what this land stands for,” Davey said.

Hidden Villa Executive Director Judith Stein announced the successful completion of the recent campaign, which has now topped $8.8 million, and thanked dinner guests for contributing to the evening’s $120,000 raised for education programs.

The event’s honorary chairwoman was Rosemary B. Hewlett; chairwoman was Jan Fenwick. Other speakers included Hidden Villa Board of Trustees Chairman Carl King and Steve Jurvetson, managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Humanitarian Award honorees received photographs of Hidden Villa by Robert Glenn Ketchum.