PayPal Park really went to the dogs last Saturday night — literally.
And, no, I am not being mean. It was the night of the Fur Ball — Humane Society Silicon Valley’s disco-themed fundraiser that saw both people and their canine companions dressed to the nines.
And, woof, there were sure a lot of pretty pooches around — dogs in tutus, mini tuxedos and blinged-out bandanas. All were roaming around with their humans during the cocktail reception, held on the disco-ball-decorated concourse and field, followed by dinner under a tent on the Epicenter Fan Zone lawn. Fortunately, nobody seemed to mix up the human hors d’oeuvres with the plentiful dog treats, either.
The pups — and an appearance by NFL legend Jerry Rice — may have caught a lot of attention, but the real stars of the show were Sue and John Diekman, who were honored at the event for their role in expanding the Humane Society’s Regional Rescue Program. It moves animals from overcrowded shelters around California to Humane Society Silicon Valley, where they stand a better chance of being adopted.
The Diekmans’ relationship with Humane Society Silicon Valley started in 2004 with a $5,000 donation toward the construction of a new shelter and included a $3 million in 2022 to support the Regional Rescue Program, which has found homes for thousands of animals.
“This organization always has an eye on saving animals’ lives and the important connection between people and pets,” Sue Diekman said. And the Atherton couple haven’t just supported the program — they’ve used it, adopting two rescued dogs themselves over the past decade.
GLITTERING GALA: The month of May must have some disco feel to it, as that also was the theme for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s “Gala 54: A Night of Disco Dreamin'” on May 4 at the Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club. Nearly 250 guests got their groove on at the bash, which was highlighted by performer and activist Shakina — joined by performers Solona Husband and Miller Lberatore — on a medley of ’70s faves. Shakina wrote the lyrics to the world premiere musical “5 & Dime,” which opens a monthlong run at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on June 18.
