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Published on 01/19/1998 All articles from this issue

Holidays made for sparkling good times, worthy donations

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By Robin Katsaros

Socially Speaking

The art of the party: Eat your heart out, Martha Stewart. You have up and coming competition with Bullis-Purissima School fifth grader Ashley Rizzo of Los Altos.

Her annual holiday party has become quite the event, complete this year with sparkling cider served in champagne glasses. As you can see by the photo, these girls looked every bit the consummate party-goers.

The party was capped with a game of hide 'n' seek that ended with Amanda Mork stuck in a box on the top shelf of Ashley's closet.

An eventual rescue by Lani Rizzo, Ashley's mom, ended the social event on a positive note.

Making an impact: When Los Altos resident Jennifer Hawks held her annual "Wrap-A-Gift" holiday party for Heritage Home, a home for struggling women that is supported by City Team Ministries, she had no idea how one of the gifts would make such an impact on one needy soul.

On Christmas Eve, house mom Carolyn McGarraugh opened the door to a homeless, penniless, hungry young woman. She was welcomed with open arms and given a gift. This appreciative young woman opened her gift and wept with tears of joy when she found cash, certificates for food from McDonald's, and two phone calling cards which she promptly used to phone her parents whom she hadn't spoken to in more than a year.

Now that's what I call making a difference in a very personal way.

Tiffany treats: Los Altos resident Johanna Wise and Suzanne Ferrari, 1997 co-chairs of the "Spirit of Giving" holiday boutique put on by the Junior League of Palo Alto Mid Peninsula, were pleasantly surprised when Wendy Eagen of Tiffany & Co. presented these two women with an award recognizing their hard work at the pre-event cocktail reception honoring the event underwriters, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and Mercedes Benz of North America.

This year's event raised more than $40,000 for local community projects that affect positive change among women, children and youth.

Send suggestions or comments on "Socially Speaking" to Robin Katsaros at the Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022, or by calling or faxing 949-4207. You can e-mail her at: rkatsaros@aol.com.