Honoring Florence LaRiviere
Friday, October 6th
6 - 9 p.m.
Mitchell Park Community Center
3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
On Friday, October 6th, our Loma Prieta Chapter community joined in celebrating the 2023 Guardians of Nature honoree Florence LaRiviere while raising essential funds for our Chapter advocacy work. I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable support.
For those who were able to attend, I trust that you left as inspired as I by Florence’s incredible achievements that gifted us with the largest urban wildlife refuge in the nation, and that you were moved by the warm sense of community that defines our Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter.
To relive the memorable moments, please visit our Facebook photo album. Please enjoy this wonderful tribute video by David Simon and crew
and one from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.
I’m thrilled to report that more than 200 guests joined us, and that we have raised more than $80,000! This achievement speaks volumes about the generosity of our sponsors, donors, ticket purchasers, and winners of our online silent auction items.
It is worth noting that our Guardians of Nature Benefit is our primary fundraising event, and the raised funds are integral in enabling us to support our staff and volunteers in advancing our work to “Explore, Enjoy and Protect our Planet”.
I eagerly await next year to welcome you to our 2024 Guardians of Nature Benefit. Thank you again for your unwavering support.
Your contributions save local lands and local lives.
James Eggers, Director Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Florence LaRiviere
In 1951, La Riviere was a young mother living in Palo Alto with her husband, Philip, and their two young daughters. On warm days she and her husband would take their little girls to the cool shores of the marshland, where they would watch the birds as the breeze rippled the tall grasses on the edge of the water. When they realized that the city was dredging mud from the Bay and dumping it on the pristine marsh, they realized they had to do something. Founding Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, the couple spent the next five decades in ceaseless advocacy for preserving the natural wetlands of the area, along the entire shore of San Francisco Bay. They recruited fellow activists, joined with other environmental groups, persuaded politicians to write legislation, blocked developers, and succeeded in helping to restore and preserve thousands of acres of natural wetlands, including Baylands Nature Preserve, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Preserve, and Bair Island preserve. Due to the efforts of Florence and her many volunteers, the habitats of native and migratory birds are protected from encroachment by humans. Florence LaRiviere’s tireless efforts and leadership are an inspiration to all those who value the health and beauty of the natural environment which we all share, and who believe they can make a contribution to its preservation.
Watch Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren's warm tribute to Florence LaRiviere, 2023 Guardian of Nature honoree.
Thank you to our Honorary Hosts
City of Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Director, Garnetta Annable, City of San Jose Councilmember Arjun Batra, City of Morgan Hill Councilmember Gino Borgioli, City of Burlingame Mayor Michael Brownrigg, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Director Helen Chapman, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, City of San Mateo Deputy Mayor Lisa Diaz Nash, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, City of East Palo Alto Mayor Lisa Gauthier, City of San Mateo Councilmember Rich Hedges, City of Gilroy Councilmember Zach Hilton, Midpeninsula Open Space Regional District Director Karen Holman, City of Belmont Vice Mayor Davina Hurt, City of San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, City of Mountain Councilmember Ellen Kamei, City of Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, City of Brisbane Councilmember Clifford Lentz, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, City of Mountain View Councilmember Lisa Matichak, Town of Los Gatos Councilmember Rob Moore, Town of Menlo Park Councilmember Betsy Nash, 2019 Guardian of Nature Honoree Enid Pearson, 2019 Guardian of Nature Honoree Emily Renzel, Town of Los Gatos Mayor Maria Ristow, 2018 Guardian of Nature Honoree Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, City of Sunnyvale Councilmember Murali Srinivasan, City of Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greer Stone, City of Palo Alto Councilmember Vicki Veenker, City of Cupertino Mayor Hung Wei .
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors
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| Sierra Nevada Sentinel | Yosemite Hero |
Sequoia Champion |
Baylands Steward |
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Lisa Barboza Mary Buxton Ranae DeSantis Foundation Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Gail Barton Sue Chow Nancy and David Crabbe Gladwyn D'Souza Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, 16th Congressional District Sid and Linda Liebes Larry L. Lundberg Kelly Maas and Landa Robillard County Supervisor Joe Simitian and Mary Hughes Cheryl Woodward
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Shawn and Lisa Britton Brian Carr Peter and Melanie Cross Rick and Karen DeGolia Mary Gill Jeremy Minshull and Caroline Horn Arthur Keller Ginny Laibl Susan Lessin Ruth Stoner Muzzin Kim and Gordon Ray Richard Simpson and Ann Reisenauer Enid Pearson and Emily Renzel Johanna Schmid and Edward Reed Jerry Hearn and Rebecca Reynolds Bruce Rienzo Lenny and Mike Roberts Charles and Jaime Schafer Mayor Pro Tem City of Morgan Hill Rene Spring Diana Stark
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Event Committee
Mary Buxton, James Eggers, Barbara Kelsey, Camille King, Justyna Guterman, and Joyce Wright
Contact us
Questions about the event and to volunteer: Justyna Guterman (Justyna.Guterman@sierraclub.org or 650-390-8494)
All proceeds benefit the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter. Tickets purchases and gifts to the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter are not tax-deductible; they support our effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts.
Past Guardians of Nature Benefits
