By Evy Schiffman
 Angela McConnell, back, second from left, and family members celebrate her recognition. |
The annual benefit for the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) March 25 at Finn Center was both a tribute to both outgoing executive director Angela McConnell and to the school’s mission of “Arts for All.” Nearly 400 guests turned out at the Computer History Museum for the event emceed by former Mountain View mayor Matt Neely.
Sponsored by the Morgan Family Foundation, Applied Materials, Corrigan-Walla Foundation, Franklin and Catherine Johnson Foundation, Castellano Family Foundation, and Bob Reay and Judi Fan, the benefit raised more than $250,000 for CSMA’s arts education and financial aid programs.
Los Altos folks attending included CSMA Board Chairman Mike Couch and wife, Jeanne; Dr. Gary and Nobuko Saito Cleary; Bob and Jan Fenwick; Steve Finn; Bill and Gay Krause; Bob and Sue Larson; and Roy and Ruth Rogers
Chairwoman emeritus Yvonne Nevens, co-chairpersons Heather Walker and Armando Castellano and committee members arranged an evening of surprises for McConnell and gala guests.
The evening’s biggest surprise came with the announcement that Microsoft was contributing $20,000 to the newly established Angela A. McConnell Scholarship Fund. An anonymous member of CSMA’s board of directors donated $10,000, with other supporters contributing an additional $40,000 to the named scholarship fund that evening.
McConnell, joined on stage by husband Rick and 8-year-old twins Emily and Jake, received a number of special gifts, including a new auto accessory. If you see a black SUV with ARTS4LL on the license plate (a shortening of CSMA’s tagline “Arts for All” to fit the 7-digit California plate), you’ll know it’s McConnell.
“It has been a great privilege to have played a part in CSMA’s history, but it is the school’s future that holds the most promise,” said McConnell. “I plan to be a donor and supporter for the rest of my life.”
Schiffman is director of marketing and communications for CSMA.
