Davis Street Foundation gala raises support for local families

Davis Street Foundation held its annual gala in San Leandro on Aug. 27 to raise money for community services including food, medical, dental, child care and behavioral health programs. The event also honored Brian Copeland for 24 years as master of ceremonies and spotlighted the scale of need the nonprofit is serving across the region.

Why it matters: - Davis Street Community Center depends on fundraising to keep food, health care, child care and disability services available for low-income children, adults and seniors. - The gala highlighted both the demand for those services and the community support needed to sustain them.

What happened: - Davis Street Foundation hosted its annual Emerald Gala on Aug. 27 in San Leandro, Calif. - Community members, supporters, local leaders and donors attended the event. - The gala raised funds for Davis Street Community Center programs, including the Food Pantry, Medical, Dental, Child Care, Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities services. - The evening also celebrated Brian Copeland, who received a “golden mic” award for 24 years as Davis Street’s master of ceremonies.

The details: - Davis Street reported 43,270 food pantry visits this year. - The organization said 2,611 people used its clothing program. - The primary care clinic handled 23,028 visits. - More than 1,000 children were served through the child care voucher program and child development centers. - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services supported 64 adults in programs focused on independence. - Copeland, an actor, comedian, author, playwright and TV and radio host, grew up in San Leandro. - His ties to Davis Street date to 1996, when he learned federal funding cuts threatened the preschool breakfast program. - Copeland later supported Davis Street through auctions and other fundraising efforts. - His Comedy in the Plaza event also helped support Davis Street’s Back to School Drive. - Davis Street thanked sponsors, donors, volunteers, community partners, the San Leandro High School Jazz Band, Stratify Band, Pacific Auction Company and FairFirst Catering. - Event sponsors included Anonymous, UBS, Fremont Bank, Garry Offenberg and Teri Schlesinger, Ivan Cornelius, Mike and Nancy Pretto, Rose Padilla Johnson, Dr. Paul Bracke, Gordon Galvan, Supervisor Lena Tam, Hively, Port of Oakland, Kaiser Permanente, PRANA Yoga + Wellbeing, Rachelle Clark-Parham, Robert and Patricia Duey, Angela Rafoth, Esther L. Collier and Deborah L. Parks, InterWest, Kiwanis Club of San Leandro, Mayor Juan Gonzalez III, Rome Solutions, Inc., Ryan and Wilma Nishimoto and Surlene Grant. - Davis Street Community Center was founded in 1972 and focuses on improving quality of life for low-income families and individuals. - Davis Street’s programs also include primary care with dental and behavioral health services, emergency food and clothing, children's services and specialized support for adults with intellectual disabilities. - More information - More information - More information

Between the lines: - The gala served as both a fundraiser and a public reminder of how much demand Davis Street is meeting across multiple service lines. - Honoring a longtime community figure like Brian Copeland reinforces the organization’s local roots and helps tie fundraising to neighborhood identity. - The breadth of sponsors suggests Davis Street has support from businesses, public officials and individual donors, not just one funding stream.

What's next: - Davis Street will continue using gala proceeds to support year-round services for families and individuals in the region. - The nonprofit is likely to keep relying on community events, sponsors and donors to bridge funding needs for core programs.

The bottom line: - The Emerald Gala was both a celebration and a funding lifeline for Davis Street’s essential safety-net services.