TEL HI Celebrates 135 Years of Community Impact at Annual San Francisco Gala, ‘A Taste of TEL HI
May 22, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO | MAY 2025 — Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center (TEL HI) held its annual fundraising event, a “Taste of TEL HI,” presented by Transform-CX at The Conservatory at One Sansome on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in San Francisco. The event brought together city officials including California State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, and San Francisco District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter to support TEL HI’s many essential programs serving San Francisco’s children, seniors, and families.
This year’s gala was a vibrant celebration, commemorating TEL HI’s 135th anniversary and honoring the remarkable individuals who have shaped its legacy over the years. Sponsors enjoyed exclusive access to the ‘Transform-CX VIP Bar’ at The Holbrook House, the Conservatory’s gilded-era inspired signature bar, where they could network with company executives, government officials, business leaders, and philanthropists alike.
This year’s Fund-a-Need held special importance in light of significant budget cuts to TEL HI’s youth programs. Proceeds from the evening directly supported TEL HI’s vital afterschool and summer offerings for elementary, middle, and high school students. These programs do more than provide a safe space while parents are at work—they offer academic support, enriching activities, and critical opportunities for social-emotional development, helping young people grow, learn, and thriv
Dion Lim, Emmy® Award-winning TV news anchor and reporter at ABC7/KGO-TV in San Francisco, emceed the night as multiple city leaders and members of TEL HI’s Board of Directors addressed the crowd, celebrating TEL HI’s prestigious legacy of service in San Francisco for the past 135 years.
The excitement of the evening soared when Tony Marcell, general manager and partner at Wayfare Tavern, doubled Wayfare’s live auction item prize: a private 3-course dinner for 8 guests at their beautiful new location on Pine Street, adding to the charitable spirit of the event and doubling the funds for TEL HI’s various youth programs.
Through ticket and table sales, live and silent auctions, and a Fund-a-Need, the gala raised over $350,000—marking the highest total since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. This is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our community to TEL HI’s mission.
Guests enjoyed complimentary rosé from Museion Napa and sipped on wine from Fog Harbor Fish House, Scoma’s Restaurant, 94574 Brand, Canihan Family Cellars, and Hill Family Estate.
TEL HI thanks its major sponsors: Presenting Sponsor: Transform-CX, Inc. Platinum Sponsors: Misty Tyree, Embarc Advisors, The Keker Family: In Loving Memory of Tina Keker. Gold Sponsors: ALG Building Maintenance, Golden State Warriors, Julius’ Castle/Paul Scott, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Nick Goldberg & Crystal Sumner, PCS Technology, Pier 39, Rom’s Painting Inc., San Francisco Giants, US Bank, and Wallace Samuelson. Media & In-Kind Sponsors: Spritz, San Francisco Magazine, ABC7 News
Event Photos – Photo Credit Jacob Cabral
