Poverty-fighting Organization Raises $12 million for Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night's record-setting fundraising event for Tipping Point Community, the Bay Area's leading poverty-fighting organization since 2005, raised an unprecedented $12 million to fight poverty in the Bay Area. This investment comes at a critical time when roughly 20% of Bay Area residents are too poor to meet their basic needs.

"The Bay Area is under construction," said Daniel Lurie, Tipping Point Community's CEO + Founder. "Everywhere you look, you see scaffolding, detours and signs of growth. As this region continues to thrive, I am humbled by the generosity and desire for so many leaders in our community to invest in the lives of others to build a better Bay Area for all of us."

More than 365,000 Bay Area residents have been served by Tipping Point grantees since 2005. Tipping Point's Board underwrites all operating costs, and 100% of the $12 million raised will go directly to the most effective education, employment, housing and health organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thanks to more than 1,200 generous supporters including Devon and Pete Briger and Bradley and Chris James, Tipping Point will be able to add five new non-profits to its portfolio, bringing the total to 50 groups located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Brin Wojcicki Foundation pledged $1 million as a match for all gifts at the $25,000 level and below, which further fueled donations.

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr, founder and CEO of BUILD, a Tipping Point Community grantee since 2005, spoke at the event that focused on the 80,000 children waiting for pre-school in our community, the families being pushed out of their homes, and the 40% dropout rate in Oakland.

"When Tipping Point began funding us in 2005, we had a handful of school sites in the Bay Area and were serving 190 students," said McKechnie Klahr. "Today, BUILD is a national organization that has served thousands of young people and incubated over 500 youth businesses in the Bay Area, Boston, Washington, D.C. and soon New York City."

The event was co-chaired by Devon and Pete Briger, Abigail and Egon Durban, and Heather and Jony Ive. Daniel Lurie and auctioneer Lydia Fenet of Christie's hosted the seventh annual event.

A Bay Area under construction theme greeted guests at Pier 48 where they were welcomed with specialty cocktails mixed by Rye and real-time portraits by Meanwhile in San Francisco: The City in Its Own Words artist Wendy McNaughton. Guests dined on food prepared by culinary artist Paula LeDuc.  

Auction highlights included Epic Lifetime Passes from Vail Resorts, and a private cooking lesson with James Beard-appointed teachers April Bloomfield, Tyler Florence, and Michael Tusk. Special sports packages featuring the 49ers' Opening Day at Levi's Stadium and batting practice at AT&T Park were popular items.

A four-ton robot created by Bot & Dolly treated the crowd to a light show that mirrored real-time fundraising as proceeds neared the $12 million level. OneRepublic entertained guests after the dinner and DJ Ruckus spun until midnight for the attendees.

"It's nights like last night that exemplify what makes the Bay Area one of the best regions in the world," said Thomas Laffont, board chair of Tipping Point Community. "We live in a part of the world spurred by cutting-edge technology, but many of our neighbors are barely able to make ends meet. This event spoke to the incredible sense of community that exists in spite of this gap. We must step up and invest in each other."

About Tipping Point Community Tipping Point Community screens non-profits rigorously to find, fund and partner with the most effective organizations serving Bay Area individuals and families in need. Tipping Point's board underwrites all operating and fundraising expenses so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly toward the fight against poverty. Since 2005, Tipping Point has raised more than $60 million and has reached nearly 250,000 people in need. More information about Tipping Point Community is available at www.tippingpoint.org.

SOURCE Tipping Point Community