North Beach Citizens' "An Italian Dinner Celebration" | L'Italo-Americano

North Beach Citizens’ “An Italian Dinner Celebration” 12th Annual Spring Fundraiser

For the twelfth year, “An Italian Dinner Celebration” will welcome the San Francisco community for a dazzling evening of authentic Italian fare and live entertainment for a fantastic cause. The event marks the 12th annual Spring Fundraiser for North Beach Citizens, a local non-profit founded by Francis Ford Coppola, committed to alleviating the problems facing San Francisco’s homeless and low-income populations.

Last year more than 300 guests attended the fundraiser, including poet and City Lights Books founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti, former Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., filmmaker George Lucas and Roman Coppola. This year’s event promises to bring a similar and impressive crowd of local officials and notables.

North Beach Citizens, a local non-profit committed to alleviating the problems facing San Francisco’s homeless and low-income populations, will host its 12th Annual Spring Dinner at the historic Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach on Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 6 – 9:30 p.m.

The annual fundraising event, which accounts for 55 percent of North Beach Citizens’ annual budget, serves as a forum for the San Francisco community to join together for an evening of authentic Italian fare and entertainment, while investing in and elevating a fantastic cause. The contributions made at the Spring Dinner will directly support North Beach Citizens programs serving San Francisco’s underprivileged.

Founded in 2001 by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, together with a group of North Beach residents and merchants, North Beach Citizens utilizes the talents and support of the local community to address the needs of its homeless and low-income citizens in an atmosphere of trust, integrity and respect. For more than 12 years, North Beach Citizens has been producing real solutions for the homeless, engaging isolated individuals in positive interaction and problem-solving with their communities. The Spring Dinner is not only a spectacular evening of food and community, but a crucial fundraising and awareness tool for North Beach Citizens.

North Beach Citizens honorees Carolyn Zecca Ferris and Alessandro Baccari, Jr. with NBC Executive Director Kristie Fairchild. Nov. 2011. Photo: Catherine Bigelow

Honored by NBC as “Man of The Year” in 2011, historian Alessandro Baccari said to L’Italo-Americano:

“NBC is a local organization really dedicated to serve the community and helping the poor people. We have unfortunately so many people who fall in the wrong side in our society” – he added – “Life is a journey and if we want this journey to be beautiful, we should do our best and help each other. When you help a fellow human being, and they become part of the society it is truly a wonderful thing”.

While preparing for his future investigation trip to Israel, Mr. Baccari also revealed: “I was very proud to be honored by NBC, since I’ve always supported their activity, and I’m still very grateful for this recognition. They are a wonderful institution, from the Honorary Chair to the Board Members and their very dedicated staff.

Also my wife Catherine strongly believed in their work, and she was very proud too when they decided to honor me. Since she passed away, I’m not here a lot to help them in person, because I feel I need to work more and be active.

By the way, I believe NBC is very important because they are always there for the people, it is a beautiful example of compassion and charity towards the others in need, like the words and life of Saint Francis of Assisi”.

This year’s event is generously sponsored by a host of local businesses, community members and organizations, including San Francisco Waterfront Partners, LLC, The George Lucas Family Foundation, John and Tina Keker and Former Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr., with additional donations from Cowgirl Creamery, Hess Winery, Francis Ford Coppola Presents, Straus Dairy, California Olive Ranch Olive Oil, and catering by Tasha De Serio. Local culinary sponsors will contribute to the delicious Italian menu, promising to delight palates with items such as Piccolo Fritto (Fried Castelvetrano Olives and Lemon), Grissini, Fra’Mani Salumi, Sheep’s Milk Cheese and Pickled Vegetables, Polenta and Meatballs with Rapini and Parmigiano Reggiano, and Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Spring Berry Sauce and Almond Biscotti. Guests will enjoy live entertainment by local DJ Dave Tutton as well as a performance by the colorful and beloved musical revue Beach Blanket Babylon.

Tickets to North Beach Citizen’s “An Italian Dinner Celebration” are available in gradational sponsor levels, beginning with $175 for a single adult and culminating at the $15,000 “Producer” level. The various sponsorship levels provide an opportunity for individuals and organizations to align – at the level of financial commitment they feel most comfortable – with a reputable and effective community-based, nonprofit organization serving the needs of individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

For tickets to the event and more information on North Beach Citizens, please visit http://www.northbeachcitizens.org/events/ or call 415-772-0918.

An Italian Dinner Celebration

The historic Saints Peter and Paul Church (North Beach)

Sunday, April 21, 2013, 6 – 9:30 p.m.

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