By Town Crier Staff Report
Hidden Villa’s Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards honor recipients who have contributed to forwarding the causes of muticulturalism and the environment.
The seventh annual awards ceremony and dinner is set for 5-9:30 p.m., Sept. 28, at the Los Altos Hills preserve. The $150 admission fee includes a social hour with organic wine and hors d’oeuvres in the newly restored Duveneck House gardens. Guided tours of the educational garden for children are available.
This year’s honorees are acclaimed chef Alice Waters, environmentalist John Francis and volunteer George Chippendale. There will be viewing of the Frank and Lizzie Boott Duveneck family art collection and a silent auction of four hybrid gasoline and electric engine cars.
“This year’s Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards Dinner continues the Duveneck legacy of encouraging humanitarian values by honoring individuals who have made major contributions to improving humanity through their extraordinary personal and professional accomplishments,” said Judith Steiner, executive director of Hidden Villa.
“We are pleased to honor Alice Waters for commitment to sustainable agriculture and earth stewardship; Dr. John Francis for his global environmental activism; and George Chippendale for his volunteer commitment to the children and youth of East Palo Alto by encouraging and enabling them to attend Hidden Villa’s multicultural summer camp on scholarship,” Stiener said.
Waters, an internationally known chef, author and proprietor of Chez Panisse Restaurant, will also be the keynote speaker at the dinner. She pioneered the culinary philosophy to use only the freshest organic ingredients picked in season.
Francis is regarded as an expert at environmental issues and an environmental activist. He has shown commitment to environmental sustainability continuously.
Globally, he has worked to increase the awareness of the fragility of our planet’s health.
Chippendale of Palo Alto is honored for his commitment to the youth of East Palo Alto.
His hard work led to 1,000 low-income youths participating in Hidden Villa’s multicultural summer camps on free scholarships.
“We are delighted that Nell Newman, a strong supporter of environmental and social causes and co-founder of Newman’s Own Organics, will be presenting the awards,” Steiner said.
To join in the festivities and enjoy the menu, call Hidden Villa at 949-8651 by Sept. 16.
For additional information logon to www.hiddenvilla.org. Hidden Villa is located at 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills.
