Heart of Green

A Gorgeous & Green Night

It was a glamorous night for the environment as the eco-glitterati turned out at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco for the Gorgeous & Green Gala benefiting Global Green USA and the greening of schools nationwide. My fellow co-chair Zem Joaquin and I want to thank everyone who helped to make this year’s sold-out event the best Gorgeous & Green ever.

This year, we were inspired by classic dinner theatres of decades past. After pouring over photos of Paris and the Moulin Rouge, we worked with Blueprint Studios to design a décor that we hoped would be “Spectacular, Spectacular.” It turned out even better than our wildest dreams with a red carpet runway, crystal candelabras, velvet curtains, sensational banquettes with front-row seating, live trees, sumptuous lighting, and more. See photos below. Everything was rented and returned with the help of Blueprint Studios for a full circle eco-design experience. We even had the Moulin Rouge movie playing on the bar. I am not sure anyone noticed that last detail, but it didn’t matter because it meant that people were having too much fun!

The star-studded night began with a gourmet organic Patron Dinner by celebrity chefs Michael Mina, Michelin 2-star Joseph Humphrey of Dixie, and Bill Corbett, the master pastry chef at Absinthe. The eco-friendly and talented Taste Catering served up delicious, farm-to-tray hors d’oeuvres during the cocktail receptions. Raves about the food were heard throughout the night, and things were just getting warmed up!  VIP guests sipped Korbel California Champagne made with organically-grown grapes, our local favorite Mateveza beer, Numi teas, and specialty cocktails made with 360 Vodka (organic of course). We are deeply grateful to Rutz Cellars and Keith Rutz for the phenomenal high-end wines and encourage everyone to visit their legendary wine cave in the Russian River Valley.

Celebrity Chefs Bill Corbett, Michael Mina & Joseph Humphrey

Notable guests on the green carpet included Jennifer Siebel Newsom and California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Omar Miller from CSI:Miami, and multi-platinum recording artist Michelle Branch. With a passion for the environment and healthy living, Michelle Branch wowed the crowd by singing beautiful ballads while strumming on her guitar. Actress Rosario Dawson Skyped in from London to show her support for the event, while DJ Donovan serenaded the guests with his French-inspired beats.

Levi’s and eBay were thrilled to win the inaugural Eco-Accolades for their Water<Less Jeans Collection and Common Threads program respectively. Matt Petersen, President of Global Green, announced that the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin had won the National Green School Makeover Competition presented by Pureology. In an ode to Silicon Valley, a new Green School Mobile App powered by Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was unveiled. I have to say that the MKZ Hybrid is one very handsome car, and it is a hybrid to boot with 41 mpg!

A lively and spirited auction orchestrated by Lenny Broberg saw guests outbidding each other for eco-luxury packages including the Post Ranch Inn, a custom sustainable suit from Tailored San Francisco, a Bay Area organic farm tour with a suite at Cavallo Point, VIP tickets to the Global Green Pre-Oscar Party, and more.

The magical night culminated with the Gorgeous & Green Runway Fashion Show. The dazzling models from Stars strutted their stuff in the eco-fashions of California designers Minolya, Karen Caldwell, Sara Shepherd, and Oliver Tolentino. A favorite of Hollywood actresses, Tolentino debuted hand-woven couture gowns made of sustainable pineapple fiber and water lily fabric from his native Philippines. Eco-fashion has never looked so stunning. The show was produced by Lily Achatz and Clarissa Nicosia with hair by Pureology, makeup by Vapour Organic Beauty, accessories by Make Love Not Trash and Amber Marie Bently jewelry, and music by DJ Donovan.

Gorgeous & Green Eco-Fashion Show

I know that the real reason people attend Gorgeous & Green is for the VIP gift bag (wink), and this year’s ecofabulous goodies did not disappoint. Guests were treated to a very stylish bag by Make Love Not Trash, Earthlust chandelier water bottles, eye cream from the brand new 29 Cosmetics, Essence of Vali essential oils, popchips, Miette fudges and caramels which are truly to die for, Vapour Organic Beauty’s fabulous cream blush, the very popular Green Ocean cleaner, a fashionable handbag by Envirosax, and beautiful bamboo notecards from Bambootility Media and Smock Paper.

We raised over $250,000 for Global Green USA’s green schools program and could not have done it without our generous sponsors and partners including Rabobank, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Pureology, Intel, The 11th Hour Project, Bently Holdings, Catamount Ventures, PG&E, Speedpro Imaging Marin for eco-friendly signage, Alyssa Warnock Design Studio for the beautiful graphic design, Miette, Virgin America, New Leaf Paper, Cross Marketing for the expert PR, Leftwich Event Specialists, and the incomparable LEED-certified Bently Reserve. We are grateful to our media partners SFWire, ecofabulous.com, Drew Altizer Photography, San Francisco Magazine, and SF Examiner Green Living.

To see all of the fabulous photos from the event, please see the web site of Drew Altizer Photography.

Media Coverage

San Francisco Chronicle:  Global Green USA's annual gala Gorgeous & Green

The Examiner:  A glamorous gala for green living in San Francisco

SF Wire:  Global Green USA’s 7th Annual Gorgeous & Green Gala

Ecofabulous:  Gorgeous & Green Gala 2011 – The Highlights

SF Examiner:  Green event of the year Gorgeous and Green 7th annual gala

SF Examiner Green Living Slideshow

The Sop:  Global Green Dazzles with their 7th Annual Gorgeous and Green

Haute Living:  San Francisco Gets Gorgeous and Green

SFLuxe:  Time to be Gorgeous and Green

Fibre2Fashion:  Oliver Tolentino shows Eco at Gorgeous & Green

San Francisco Magazine:  Gorgeous and Green Eco-Fashion Gala

Ecouterre:  Eco-Fashion Galore at Global Green’s 2011 Gorgeous & Green

Nob Hill Gazette:  Global Green Gala

Gorgeous & Green Photos

 
Stunning Minolya Gowns                        Zem Joaquin, Nadine Weil 

 
Artist Michelle Branch                             Designer Oliver Tolentino

Gorgeous & Green 2011 Invitation

You are invited December 6, 2011 for the star-studded Gorgeous & Green Gala at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco celebrating glamorous green lifestyles and benefiting Global Green USA. We'd love to see you!

Mina+Olya Launches

Please join us for the fashionable launch of Mina+Olya, the new gorgeous collection from Mina Yazdi and Olya Dzilikhova made locally with sumptuous fabrics. Sustainable couture fashion has never looked so good!

Olya and Mina wearing Mina+Olya

Seeing Green at OG '11

This year, I am excited to be serving on the Steering Committee for the dynamic Opportunity Green 2011 Conference in Los Angeles in November. Opportunity Green is one of my favorite conferences of the year because it combines the star power of Hollywood with the top thought leaders in sustainable business and design.

Opportunity Green will take place on November 10-11 at the Los Angeles Center Studios, the site of many Hollywood productions including “Mad Men.” This 5th Annual Opportunity Green conference will bring together 1,000 professionals for one of the largest B2B sustainability gatherings in the U.S. focused on driving profitability through business and innovation. Past and current participants include Patagonia, Nike, Dell, Universal Studios, BMW, eBay, Office Depot, Gensler, Siemens, Method, Barneys, Fuseproject, Oprah Winfrey Network, and many eco-conscious celebrities.

This year’s theme is Accelerate, so get ready for lots of fast electric cars on the lot. Gensler is heading up the design, and I can tell you from the sneak peeks that it is going to be ecofabulous.

I am thrilled to report that actor Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer will be receiving the Eco-Maverick Award for their groundbreaking work creating SHFT to make sustainable living cool, appealing and possible. Check out all of the great videos and goods at SHFT.com

Looking forward to seeing you at Opportunity Green in LA!  www.opportunitygreen.com

Lighting up Africa with Solar and Star Power

The green glitterati recently celebrated the launch of Empowered By Light, a nonprofit foundation that is delivering renewable energy light to Africa. Held at Roe in San Francisco’s SOMA, the sold-out launch party was co-hosted by SHFT co-founders actor Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer and raised funds for the organization’s first project Solar: Zambia.

Warner Philips with Pharox, Moira Hanes, Nadine Weil, Marco Krapels

More than 250 guests sipped VeeV eco-friendly cocktails and sustainable eco.love Wines while ogling the Pharox solar-powered LED light kits with built-in phone chargers that traveled to Zambia in Africa this month. VIP guests received stylish Lifefactory glass water bottles as a special gift, while a forest green Tesla electric sports car marked the party’s entrance.

SHFT.com, the Webby-award winning web property founded by Adrian Grenier and Peter Glatzer to make eco-conscious living cool, is partnering with Empowered By Light to enable citizens to buy one Pharox solar light and gift one for free to Africa. Many inspired guests elected to make donations on the spot with Square, the hit technology from Twitter-founder Jack Dorsey that helps people pay via their mobile phones and iPads.

The Empowered By Light Foundation was founded by Rabobank EVP Marco Krapels, Moira Hanes, and Gianluca Signorelli, Rabobank’s VP for Renewable Energy Finance. They were inspired by a New York Times article by Elisabeth Rosenthal describing how children in Africa improved their grades when given access to solar-powered light. When Warner Philips and Alex Nigg from Lemnis Lighting shared their Pharox Solar kit (an innovative product that combines an LED light, solar panel and phone charger), the foundation launched its first project to send 5,000 solar-powered LED light/cell phone charge kits to families.

If you haven't seen one yet, the Pharox by Lemnis Lighting is really the coolest LED light on the market. It has the soft light and shape of an old incandescent, yet it is a thoroughly modern LED bulb.

Marco Krapels, fresh off the plane from Zambia, gave a passionate speech at the launch party about how the solar-powered LED lights are already making a difference for communities in Africa. Instead of spending over 20% of their income on toxic kerosene lighting which causes lung cancer, families are now able to gather around the clean light from the Pharox kits and study and read into the night.

“Over 1.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity,” said co-founder Marco Krapels. “And in rural Zambia, only 2% of people have grid power. With a relatively small investment, we can give back to Africa and dramatically improve the lives of Zambian children and farmers, allowing families to leapfrog decades of technology and participate in the benefits of the modern world.”

SHFT co-founder Peter Glatzer said, “Adrian and I are thrilled to be a part of this initiative. Empowered By Light is an inspired, environmentally-sound way to empower so many families who live without electricity. Every so often a project like this comes along that we feel compelled to be a part of."

Moira Hanes, Marco Krapels, Peter Glatzer, Adrian Grenier, Nadine Weil

A special shout out to the event's sponsors who included Rabobank, Lemnis Lighting, Sungevity, the Clif Bar Family Foundation, CleanPath Ventures, SHFT, SPG Solar, Roe, W San Francisco, Opower, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, A Band of Wives, and Global Green USA.

If you are interested in becoming involved, SHFT is offering a wonderful opportunity. If you buy one Pharox solar light kit, you can gift one free to Africa. See the Pharox on SHFT here.

I was thrilled to serve on the event steering committee for Light Up The Night. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and attended this spirited and inspirational party!  www.empoweredbylight.org

Press Wrap Up

Here is a collection of stories on Empowered By Light and the event:

San Francisco Chronicle:  Empowered By Light's Solar Zambia

San Francisco Examiner:  Stars power efforts

944 Magazine:  Light Up The Night in San Francisco

The Bold Italic:  Lighting Up The Night

Vivanista

Eco.love Wines

Blue Practice

Vimeo Video

Photos by Drew Altizer

Global Action Through Fashion

Please join us for a festive cocktail hour and eco-fashion symposium celebrating our power to make a difference through the shirts on our back and those fabulous little black dresses.

WHEN:
Thursday June 30, 2011
7 pm: Eco-Fashion Symposium
8 pm: Cocktail Party

WHERE:
The Hub SoMa
901 Mission Street, Suite 105
San Francisco, CA 94103

HOST COMMITTEE:
Domenica Peterson, Christine Aylward, Clarissa Nicosia, Claudia Ross, Heidi Petit, Jeffrey Leifer, Vicki Liviakis, Joel Goodrich, Karen Tamblyn, Mary Macrae, Mike del Ponte, Nadine Weil, ecofabulous

DRESS:
Ethical cocktail attire

FEATURING:

• Eve Blossom, Lulan Artisans
• Lynda Grose, CCA
• Kindley Walsh-Lawlor, Gap Social & Environmental Responsibility
• Domenica Peterson, Global Action Through Fashion
• Local organic hors d’oeuvres from Stacy Scott Catering
• FAIR - The Fair Trade Spirits Co
• Casa Noble Organic Tequila
• Greater Purpose Wines
• Silent Auction
• Ethical Fashion Exhibit
• Personal eco-styling and a photo booth to capture all the looks

RSVP:
Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Global Action Through Fashion
Reserve here: fashionjustice.eventbrite.com

WHY:
This event celebrates fashion’s surprising influence on our daily lives and the fashion industry’s underutilized power to change the world. The global apparel and accessories market generates total revenues of over $1.3 trillion per year, yet less than 1% is eco-conscious. Now is the time for change. Let’s take global action through fashion! The organization is doing groundbreaking work on  both the producer and the consumer side to help transform the fashion industry and enable us to wear our values on our sleeve. Look out for their super cool movie coming out soon.
www.globalactionthroughfashion.org

Summer Rayne Oakes wearing Leila Hafzi

Empowered By Light with Adrian Grenier

Please join us for a cocktail party in support of Empowered by Light, improving life with renewable energy technologies, with the co-founders of SHFT and star of the hit series Entourage.

Light Up The Night

WHEN:
Saturday, June 18, 2011
6:30 pm  VIP Reception
7:30 pm  Main Party

LOCATION:
Roe
651 Howard Street
San Francisco

CELEBRITY HOSTS:
Actor Activist Adrian Grenier (star of Entourage, SHFT co-founder) and Peter Glatzer (SHFT co-founder)

CO-CHAIRS:  Warner Philips, Moira Hanes

HOST COMMITTEE:
Nadine Weil, Marco Krapels, Gianluca Signorelli, David Shearer

HONORARY CHAIR:
Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma of the Netherlands

TICKETS:
VIP Reception: $150
General: $50
Sponsorships

RSVP:
Spots are limited. For tickets, please visit lightthenightevent.eventbrite.com/

PARTNERS:
SHFT, Clif Bar Family Foundation, Square, Blue Practice, Heart of Green

SPONSORS:
Rabobank, Lemnis Lighting, Pharox, Sungevity, Roe, W San Francisco, CleanPath Ventures, A Band of Wives, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Opower

FEATURING:

• Eco-friendly cocktails courtesy of VeeV
• Sustainable wines by eco.love Wines
• Delicious organic bites by Roe
• ecofabulous glass water bottles by Lifefactory

ABOUT:
Empowered By Light’s mission is to improve lives and the environment with renewable energy technologies. They are currently delivering 5,000 solar-powered LED light/cell phone charge kits to rural Zambian families who do not have electricity and who presently use heavily-polluting means to access power. For more information, please visit www.empoweredbylight.org

We look forward to seeing you!

Cradle to Cradle Dinner

William McDonough and Michael Braungart, co-authors of the landmark sustainable design manifesto “Cradle to Cradle,” will be together at last in San Francisco. Please join me at this momentous occasion and celebration of a world in which growth is good and regenerative for life on Earth. 

An Evening with William McDonough & Dr. Michael Braungart
Co-Authors of "Cradle to Cradle"

WHEN:
Thursday, June 9, 2011
5:30 pm  Cocktails, Networking, and Dinner
7:00 pm  Roundtable moderated by Jared Blumenfeld
8:00 pm  VIP Reception in Presidential Suite

WHERE:
The InterContinental
888 Howard Street @ 4^th
San Francisco, California

Enjoy a gala evening of cocktails, dinner, stimulating conversation, and mingling with fellow leaders. Don't miss this rare intimate moment to talk with two of the founders of sustainable design and help shape the future. We will be toasting the accomplishments of the groundbreaking nonprofit Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, started a year ago to propel C2C principles into the mainstream and help fuel the Post-Industrial Revolution rooted in ecological design.

TICKETS:
Benefiting the nonprofit Cradle to Cradle Institute. Limited to 150 spots:
$150 Student
$500 General
$1,000 VIP
Sponsorships available

RSVP:
Reserve your spot here

On a personal note, the book Cradle to Cradle changed my life in the year 2005. I was reading it sitting in a swimming pool in Los Angeles the day after the Global Green Millennium Awards because the book is actually waterproof. I found myself saying “Yes!” to nearly every page. What if a building were designed like a tree? What if the water coming out of a production plant was cleaner than the water going in? What if we replaced the toxins in products with benevolent substitutes, and health became a top priority. What if we designed products so that they could be separated into two nutrient streams – one natural/compostable and the other technical and infinitely recyclable, or rather upcyclable. In other words, what if there were no more waste as nature intended.

Many companies are reducing energy usage, reducing carbon and more. This is a noble efficiency path focused on being less bad. Ultimately, it seems to be slowing down the inevitable. To achieve the thriving world we dream about, we need a new vision of doing that which is truly good for life on Earth. This is leadership versus management. Effectiveness versus efficiency. Right now, our industrial society is a degenerative one. We can become regenerative by following the design principles of Cradle to Cradle and nature. Nothing short of the future of our species depends on it.

The good news is that Cradle to Cradle is fast becoming a movement!  Over 100 products have already been certified as C2C including Method laundry detergent, Herman Miller office chairs, gDiapers, even the US Postal Service box. See the full list of Cradle to Cradle products here. More are being added every day. Cradle to Cradle is a design revolution that is changing the world.

Imagine products made from safe and healthy materials that, at the end of their life, are either transformed into new products or returned to the earth. These same products are manufactured with renewable energy by socially-responsible companies. Now this is a shopping experience I can get behind!  Thanks to Cradle to Cradle, this dream is becoming a reality. We look forward to seeing you on June 9th for what promises to be an unforgettable night.

Go Wild for Snow Leopards on May 22

Calling all animal lovers - you are invited to the 10th Anniversary Party of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. Come celebrate the incredible work the Conservancy is doing to help save the snow leopards from extinction in the Himalayas.

If you have never seen a snow leopard (a very rare occurrence), this is your chance. I guarantee you will be blown away! 

Snow Leopard Conservancy's
10th Anniversary Party

WHEN:
Sunday, May 22, 2011
1 pm – 4 pm

WHERE:
Janet Pomeroy Center
207 Skyline Boulevard
San Francisco

FEATURING:

• Delicious food and beverages
• Famous snow leopard expert Rodney Jackson
• Special Long Tail Wine
• A silent auction with safaris, SF Giants, and more
• Mingling with fellow eco-conscious leaders
• Meet feline ambassadors from the Wild Cat Education & Conservation Fund and even a Bactrian Camel native to Mongolia

TICKETS:
Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Snow Leopard Conservancy
Rsvp at www.snowleopardconservancy.org
or call 707.935.3851

Heart of Green is proud to support the Snow Leopard Conservancy and their amazing 10 years of wildlife conservation. Because of their work, local communities are learning to embrace the existence of snow leopards and live together with these beautiful creatures. We look forward to seeing you on May 22 for an inspiring and fun day!

Green Love for Clean Air

You are invited to the Clean Air Awards 2011 luncheon on April 15th, a top award for air quality and climate protection in California. The awards are hosted by Breathe California, now in its 100th year. I served on the Green Ribbon Panel of Judges this year and can reveal that the winners are fantastic. Our future is bright!

Clean Air Awards 2011

WHEN:
Friday, April 15, 2011
11:30 am Networking Reception & Awards Luncheon

WHERE:
The Merchant Exchange Building, 15th Floor
465 California Street, San Francisco

HONORARY HOSTS:
Senator Mark Leno, Assemblymember Jared Huffman, Senate President Darrell Steinberg, Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, other elected officials

FEATURING:

• CA Clean Air Awards
• Keynote Speech by Senate President Darrell Steinberg
• Reception and Organic Luncheon
• Jack Broadbent, CEO, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• Emceed by KCBS Morning Anchor Stan Bunger
• Leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit communities

RSVP:
www.cleanairawards.org

ABOUT BREATHE CALIFORNIA:
For over 100 years, Breathe California has advocated for clean air, fought against lung disease, and worked to advance public environmental health. Helping to stop global warming is a major priority for Breathe California because warmer temperatures caused by greenhouse gases lead to higher rates of asthma, respiratory illness, and lung disease. Breathe California currently runs education and advocacy programs in the areas of Clean Air Public Policy, Asthma Education & Management, Cigarette Smoking Cessation, Global Warming, and Improved Air Quality.

Heart of Green is a proud sponsor of this event. We are united in our need for clean air for good health and prosperity. As the winds of change blow, I believe that we cannot take the fresh air that we do have for granted and that we must remain vigilant in our quest for a healthy environment in which to live. We look forward to seeing you next week and please consider applying for the award next year!

WildAid Gala

Join us for an unforgettable night at the star-studded WildAid Gala honoring wildlife ambassadors and celebrating the movement to save endangered species like tigers, elephants, rhinos, and more for future generations.

WildAid Gala

WHEN:
Thursday, May 5, 2011
6:30 pm

WHERE:
Julia Morgan Ballroom
Merchant Exchange Building
465 California Street, 15th Floor
San Francisco, CA

Celebrity Chef:  Tyler Florence

Winemakers:  Rob Mondavi Jr. & Michael Mondavi

HONOREES:

• Yao Ming - NBA All Star, WildAid Ambassador
• Julie Packard
• Addison Fischer

CELEBRITY HOSTS:
Jackie Chan, Bo Derek, Leonardo DiCaprio, Edward Norton, Yao Ming, Holly Beck, Maurice Greene, Allen Johnson

CHAIRS:
Chairs:  Tod & Fiona Bensen, Beverly Spector & Ken Lipson
Co-Chairs:  Bill & Shannon Joy, Laney & Pasha Thornton, Rob & Lydia Mondavi, Michael & Xochi Birch, Dr. Jordan & Caroline Shlain, Peter Knights

HOST COMMITTEE:
Nadine Weil, Prescott Ashe, Ivonne Baki, Ashley Barrington-Mace, Jeff Bede, Ben Bleiman, Craig & Nancy Branigan, Samantha Campbell, Jonathan Conrad, Mark Cunningham, Tracey Durning, Rory Faber, Lisa Greenberg-Ferrero, Bryce Groark, Moira Hanes, Lea Haratani, David Haslingden, Shawn Heinrichs, Michael Horwitz, Robert Hunt, Lucie Jay, Richard & Carole Johnson, Phil Lamoreaux, Leo Lippi, Katie Martin, Shannon McElyea, Cathy McMurtry, Steve Morgan, Nancy Mueller, Larry Namer, Nicolette Oliaro, Cameron Phleger, Angelina Preza, Anthony Sandberg, Joakim Silvanderson, Eric Steinhauser, James Von Rittmann, Wesley Wang, Jamie White

SPONSORS:
Google, Alliance Bernstein, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Bank of America, Fenwick & West, Britex, Europenan Collision Center, Folio Fine Wine Partners, Partida Tequila, Tyler Florence Group, Heart of Green

ONLINE AUCTION:
The WildAid auction is live! Peruse a dazzling list of travel adventures, artwork and more at the WildAid auction site on charitybuzz

RSVP:
The gala is already 75% sold out. Reserve your tickets here:
www.wildaid.org/gala

ABOUT WILDAID:
WildAid reduces the demand for endangered species products by specifically targeting consumers with engaging public service announcements and education initiatives. WildAid runs global public awareness campaigns with celebrity spokespeople, field conservation programs, and the enforcement of marine protected areas. WildAid is headquartered in San Francisco, with programs in the United States, China, India, Ecuador, Canada, the UK, Galapagos, and Indonesia.

With its persuasive PSAs, WildAid is reaching over 1 billion people in China and over 500 million people in India per week. They work with over 80 international celebrity and sports star ambassadors and over 50 media partners to save tigers, elephants, sharks from shark finning, marine life, rhinos and much more. Watch the PSAs and learn more at www.wildaid.org

In recent news, Californian Assemblymen Paul Fong and Jared Huffman introduced a law this week (Assembly Bill 376) with WildAid that would ban the sale and distribution of shark fins in California.  "The overfishing and inhumane finning of sharks for soup is an ecological disaster on a global scale. This bill would be an important step towards conserving the health of our oceans for future generations," said Peter Knights, Executive Director of WildAid. The outpouring of support for this bill has been incredible and included even a tweet by @LeonardoDiCaprio to his 700,000 followers. The world is ready to protect nature before it is too late. Sign the pledge

We hope you can join us at this glamorous celebration to save wildlife!

Roam Free on St. Patty's Day

You are invited to experience a new kind of Green on St. Patrick's Day. Join us for a festive cocktail party and multimedia presentation on Freedom To Roam highlighting wildlife's critical need for movement by Rick Ridgeway.

Have no fear. Beer will be offered for eco-conscious revelers. Patagonia's VP of Environmental Initiatives, Rick is a world-renowned adventurer who has been called the real-life Indiana Jones by Rolling Stone Magazine.

St. Patrick's Day Party
for Freedom To Roam

DATE:
Thursday, March 17, 2011
6:30 PM

LOCATION:
Private Home in Mill Valley
(address upon rsvp)

HOSTS:
Rick Ridgeway, Zem Joaquin, Nadine Weil, Stuart Ruddick, Jason Kibbey, Juliet Lamont, Andrew Behar, Laura Rodormer, Clare Cooley

FEATURING:

• Delicious Organic Reception
• Eco-Friendly Cocktails by VeeV
• Multimedia Freedom to Roam Presentation by Rick Ridgeway
• MateVeza beer and Wente Vineyards sustainable wine
• St. Patrick's Day Celebration
• VIP Gift Bags by Patagonia
• Mingling with the who’s who of green in the Bay Area

RSVP:
rsvp at freedomtoroam dot org
An opportunity to support Freedom To Roam will be available at the event.

CRITTERS THAT ROAM:
The monarch butterfly, the infamous wolverine, pronghorn antelope, lynx, whales, sea turtles, bighorn sheep, salmon, pumas, and countless more iconic American species need to migrate to survive. Wildlife corridors are making this possible and enabling humans and animals to co-exist in harmony and prosper. Learn more about Freedom To Roam and wildlife corridors here at www.freedomtoroam.org

SUPPORTED BY: Patagonia, ecofabulous, Heart of Green, Clare Cooley, PACT, Mindful Investors

We hope you can join us! And don’t forget to wear eco-couture in the color du jour.

Migration photos by National Geographic Photographer Joe Riis

Pre-Oscar Party with Global Green

You are invited to party for the planet like a rock star at Global Green's popular Pre-Oscar Party in Hollywood.

Come celebrate the environment with some of the biggest eco-celebrities and musicians at the Avalon Theater in Los Angeles. I can attest from personal experience that this party is not to be missed!

Global Green Pre-Oscar Party

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
5:30 pm Patron Dinner
8:30 pm Oscar Party

WHERE:
Avalon Hollywood Theater
1735 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA

HONORARY HOSTS:
Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Suzy Amis Cameron, Kate Bosworth, Jim Carrey, Rosario Dawson, Mia Maestro, Sharon Lawrence, Matt Petersen

FEATURING:

• Live Musical Performances
• Celebrity Guests
• Festive Cocktail Party with Newton Vineyard and 360 Vodka
• VIP Lounge
• Green Carpet Arrivals
• Smart Eco-Conscious Solutions

TICKETS:
All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Global Green and their efforts to create a secure and sustainable future through Green Schools, Green Affordable Housing, community-based clean energy solutions, successful policy work, and more at www.globalgreen.org

$55 General Admission
$100 General Admission plus Global Green Membership
$1,000 VIP Ticket with VIP lounge, hosted bar, seating, eco-gift bag

RSVP Required:
Tickets are going quickly. Please rsvp here:
www.globalgreen.org/preoscarparty

We look forward to seeing you in Hollywood!

Gorgeous & Green to celebrate Mad Men

Heart of Green and ecofabulous invite you to Global Green’s star-studded Gorgeous & Green party celebrating eco-lifestyles with celebrity guests, a runway eco-fashion show, organic cocktails and cuisine, top sustainability companies, and glamorous decor.  The gala benefits Global Green USA’s initiatives to green schools in the Bay Area and nationwide. This year will be a Mad Men extravaganza!

Global Green presents:  GORGEOUS & GREEN 2010

Hosted by Alison Brie, star of MAD MEN

WHEN:
December 13, 2010
5:30 pm Patron Reception & Dinner
7:30 pm Cocktail Party & Eco-Fashion Show

WHERE:
W San Francisco
181 Third Street

FEATURING:

• Celebrity Hosts
• Star Musical Guests
• Top Eco-Fashion Show with vintage Mad Men
• VIP Lounge
• Michelin Star Chef Joseph Humphrey of Cavallo Point
• Patron Wines by Newton Vineyards
• Eco-Cocktails by 360 Vodka
• Vinas de Oro pisco by Clear Grape
• Korbel California Champagne with organically-grown grapes
• VIP Gift Bags
• Glamorous Green Décor by Kimberly Rider Interiors
• Cocktail Party Wines by eco.love
• Beats by DJ Donovan
• Organic Desserts by Miette and Socola Chocolatier
• Bauer's Intelligent Transportation
• Living Gardens by Design Ecology
• Top Sustainable Companies
• A Target Zero Waste Event

CELEBRITY HOSTS:
Actress Alison Brie (Mad Men, Community), Mayor Gavin Newsom, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom, William McDonough, and more.

HOST COMMITTEE:
Co-Chairs:  Zem Joaquin & Nadine Weil
Vice-Chairs:  Amber Marie and Christopher Bently
Host Committee:  Matt Petersen, Marissa Mayer & Zachary Bogue, Lily Achatz, Jackie Adlam, Jessica Appelgren, Maya Baratz, Josh Becker & Jonna Hunter, Yves Behar, Anna Boucher, Marissa Boucher, Caitlin Bristol, Brian Bunch & Tara Trask, Josiah Raison Cain, Karen Caldwell, Julie Chaiken, Timothy Childs, Scott Claxon, Emilie Cowan, Amy Darland, Jeff Denby, Nellie Draganic, Mark Dwight, Jennifer Fick, Anthony Gilmore, Joel Goodrich, Nick Graham, Moira Hanes & Marco Krapels, Jordan Harris, Brandon Hernandez, Kristine Hernandez, Deirdre Holbrook, Erin Hunt, Jay Jeffers, Bruce Katz, Jason Kibbey, Jordan Kurland, Margaret Mitchell, Clarissa Nicosia, Blair Palmer, Domenica Peterson, Heidi Pettit, Alison Gelb Pincus & Mark Pincus, Stephanie Rach, Jenevieve Randall, Christina Resasco, Kimberly Rider, Claudia Ross, Bahar Shahpar, Teri Shaw, Sarah Shaw, David Shearer, Steve Simon, Al Smyth, Maggie Stack King, Marla Steuer, Akemi Tamaribuchi, Karen Tamblyn, Joslin Van Arsdale, Jules Vasic, Janet Macgillivray Wallace & Randall Wallace, Alyssa Warnock, Christina Weber, Will Wick

DRESS CODE: 
Vintage Mad Men or Cocktail

RSVP:
www.globalgreen.org/sf/
310-581-2700
All proceeds benefit Global Green

ECO-FASHION SHOW:
Fashion Show produced by Lily Achatz and Clarissa Nicosia will be a Mad Men extravaganza with gorgeous vintage and eco-fashion designers plus new creations by Karen Caldwell. Supported by Vie, Torso, Decades, Ricky Serbin, and Eco Citizen. Beats by DJ Donovan. Hair by Pureology. Jewelry by Amber Marie Bently.  Models by Stars Model Management. 

DECOR & LIVING WALLS:
Design Ecology is putting the green in Gorgeous & Green!  They are creating living garden walls featuring California native plants from SF Foliage and Plants On Walls to bring the space to natural life. The glamorous Mad Men-inspired sustainable event decor is being created by Blueprint Studios and Kimberly Rider Interiors.

WHO’S THERE:
Rabobank, SPG Solar, PG&E, Pureology, Silver Spring, Newton Vineyards, 360 Vodka, Andronico’s, Lemnis Lighting, Vinas de Oro Pisco, MateVeza Beer, eco.love Wines, Numi Tea, Stars Model Management, Heart of Green, EO, Tsi-La Perfume, PeopleTowels, Alter Eco, Popchips, PACT, Earthlust, EcoTools, Nude Skin Care, TCHO Chocolate, Weleda, Make Love Not Trash, Sugar Beach from Stellar Spa, Brita FilterForGood, Miette, Socola, Bauer's Intelligent Transportation, Coup d'Etat Antiques, Alyssa Warnock Design, Leftwich Event Specialists, Plants On Walls, SF Foliage, Design Ecology, Blueprint Studios, Kimberly Rider Interiors

Media Sponsors:  Dwell, ecofabulous, Splendora

ABOUT GLOBAL GREEN:
Global Green's mission is to create a global value shift toward a more secure and sustainable future.  Global Green is the national arm of Green Cross International, Mikhail Gorbachev's international environmental organization.  Global Green hosts the Red Carpet Green Cars Campaign at the Oscars. They are a leader of the green rebuilding of New Orleans and creating healthy green schools in the Bay Area and nationwide. www.globalgreen.org

We hope to see you at this glamorous celebration, Gorgeous and Green! 

Campovida: Field of Life

The next stop on the Heart of Green™ eco-travel summer was Campovida, a bucolic paradise in Mendocino County north of the Wine Country. If you are looking to get back to the good things in life – organic foods, wines, gardens, sun, stars – then step into this revitalizing Field of Life.

The first thing you notice upon arrival is the sense of tranquility, but don’t be fooled, you can make your own festivities in this retreat if you are so inclined. The view out the cottage windows is to die for. Picture rolling fields for as far as the eye can see. The heritage oak trees on the property are gorgeous.

Campovida is a feast for the senses. You can taste delectable biodynamic wines from the local Magnanimus Wine Group. They make From Grape To Glass look and taste good, and I was especially fond of the Talmage and Mendocino Farms varietals. We began our experience in the Tasting Room and then proceeded to the heart of the property – the Tuscan Organic Gardens. For 13 acres, these masterful gardens thrive and delight under the expert care of Ken Boek. Sampling fresh herbs right off the vine and touring the butterfly-friendly garden with Monarchs are two unforgettable highlights not to be missed.

For parties, retreats, weddings and more, there is an impressive Pavilion that looks like it was designed by Buckminster Fuller. Its 360-degree deck overlooks a far-reaching pond inhabited by beautiful birds and foliage. It is the perfect place to partake in Magnanimus wine tasting and good conversation at sunset. There is also a fantastic natural salt-water pool for sunning and swimming.

Gourmet dining in the fields of Campovida was an extraordinary experience. You take your seat at a long candlelit table under trellises of grape vines. Our dinner was prepared by Chef Bruce Riezenman and Park Avenue Catering, Sonoma’s longest-standing green-certified caterer. Every course was mouth-watering and infused with local organic ingredients. The dinner was akin to Outstanding in the Field, except that you can fortuitously spend the night afterward in a pretty cottage. The party then took an unexpected twist – a campfire!  Singing songs with talented local musicians under the stars capped off a magical night.

Campovida has an esteemed eco-history, beginning its life as the historic Fetzer Valley Oaks Food & Wine Center. Nurtured by the Fetzer family as an ode to organic and biodynamic stewardship, the property was frequent host to culinary greats such as Julia Child, John Ash, and Emeril.

The lovely new owners of Campovida, Anna Beuselinck and Gary Breen, have restored the grounds in a sustainable way. They reclaimed and repurposed over 90% of the center’s wood and materials. Solar hot water heating, recycling, composting, eco-friendly paper products, and green cleaning are in effect. Guests enjoy certified organic farm produce and one of my favorite eco-conscious body lotions, 80 Acres by McEvoy Ranch in Verde and Lavender. Campovida partners with Green Mary to make on-site events as green as can be. And of course, there are the splendid gardens to behold and savor. With natural pest control and no fences, these gardens also serve as a wildlife corridor for friendly critters in Mendocino County who need Freedom To Roam.

If you have time, there are many exciting eco-excursions in the surrounding area. At the heart of the 12-acre Solar Living Center in Hopland is one of the greenest stores on the planet – the flagship Real Goods outpost. If you are passing through Ukiah, don’t miss the secret City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. You can then zoom up to the Humboldt Redwoods State Park and take in the most magnificent old-growth redwood trees I have ever seen. One is forever transformed in the groves along Avenue of the Giants.

So if you are feeling in need of a regenerating back-to-nature getaway, head to Campovida for a new lease on life. Spend the night, spend the week, or visit for one of their fun upcoming events like Gala on the Green. The fields are waiting. www.campovida.com

Greening Events with Style

On Thursday July 29 at the Bently Reserve, come learn how to green your event with eco style. Heart of Green founder Nadine Weil will be presenting her tricks of the trade for putting on events that are truly ecofabulous. She will also moderate a panel with the industry’s best including Blueprint Studios and Paula LeDuc Catering. Join us and find out how greening events can be easy, fun and glamorous.

Greening Your Event With Eco Style

 
WHEN:
Thursday, July 29, 2010
11:45 am – 1:30 pm

Bently Reserve (LEED-certified)
301 Battery Street, San Francisco

SPEAKERS:

• Nadine Weil, VP of ecofabulous, Founder of Heart of Green
• Paul Moss & Kaia Jacobi, Blueprint Studios
• Monica Rocchino, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
• Gustavo Fernandez, Photography

Enjoy a colorful organic lunch by Paula LeDuc featuring ingredients from local Bay Area farmers. View the Invitation

RSVP Required:
Email events at bently reserve dot com for RSVP inquiries

We look forward to seeing you at this Bently Reserve Lunchtime Speaker Series event. Until then, remember when greening to be persistent, ask lots of questions, and stay positive. You are making your event healthier for your guests and the planet. That is definitely something to smile about!

Photos from Gorgeous & Green Gala for Global Green
Co-Chairs: Zem Joaquin and Nadine Weil

Juicing for Health & Vitality

Can a glass of juice change your life?  Based on the experiences of Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the protagonists of the new film “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead,” the answer is definitely yes!  Heart of Green readers are invited to a preview screening and after party celebrating the hottest trend in health and wellness.

Screening of “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” and After Party

WHEN:
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
6:00 pm  Doors Open
6:30 pm  Movie Screening
8:00 pm  Filmmaker Q&A
8:30 pm VIP After Party & Juice Tasting

WHERE:
Sundance Kabuki Theatre, 1881 Post Street, San Francisco

HOST COMMITTEE:
Zem Joaquin, Emilie Cowan, Matthew Cowan, Nadine Weil

RSVP: 
Space is limited.
Reserve your spot here

A raffle for fabulous prizes will be available benefiting Roots of Change.

ABOUT THE FILM:
Part road trip and part wellness manifesto, this uplifting film tells the story of two men whose chance meeting and struggle to overcome the same rare disease saves one life, and changes another. What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Follow Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead on Facebook

Congratulations to the film on winning both the Audience Award for Best Documentary and the Special Jury Turning Point Award (the film that will make the most impact) at the Sonoma International Film Festival.

REBOOT MEDIA:
The mission of Reboot Media, the producers of "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead", is to get America healthy again with fruits and vegetables. Featuring partnerships with leading food and health organizations, Reboot is activating Americans around the value of fresh fruits and vegetables and empowering communities to improve their health. www.JoinTheReboot.com

ROOTS OF CHANGE:
Roots of Change is a collaborative of diverse leaders and institutions which are unified in the common pursuit of achieving a sustainable food system.

Gwyneth Paltrow has some delicious juicing recipes on her blog Goop.  I am a huge fan of the Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger recipe. Planetary sustainability starts with personal sustainability. Juice on!

Global Citizens Unite to Celebrate Green

This Saturday you are invited to a rocking party celebrating World Environment Day at Temple, one of the greenest nightclubs in the world. We will be commemorating the 5th Anniversary of hosting this auspicious day in San Francisco and toasting the diversity of life on our planet.

World Environment Day Party
Many Species. One Planet. One Future.

 
WHEN:
Saturday, June 5, 2010
6 pm Dinner at Prana (optional, reserve here)
8 pm Cocktail Party

WHERE:
Temple Nightclub
540 Howard Street, San Francisco

ENTRY:
Complimentary party entry until 9 pm. Light appetizers will be provided.

If you haven’t been to Temple and the Zen Compound yet, it is an awe-inspiring space. Owner Paul Hemming’s vision is to create the greenest nightclub and a living hub for sustainability education, culture, spirituality, and recreation that is triple bottom line. We had our Global Green after party at Temple and continue to hear rave reviews from many ecofabulous guests. Sustainability Director Mike Zuckerman is an eco-rock star who can scale tall buildings with a single bound, for real.

The United Nations Environment Program has declared 2010 the Year of Biodiversity so expect some exotic surprises at the event. What is your favorite wild animal species?  The elephant, cheetah, whale, dolphin, zebra, chimpanzee?  I am wild about tigers. That is pretty obvious. Let’s rally for our favorite endangered animals and help them survive along with us. We hope to see you at the festivities on Saturday!

It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since we hosted U.N. World Environment Day in San Francisco in June 2005. I had volunteered to distribute wildlife t-shirts and somehow ended up as the co-chair of the Catwalk on the Wild Side eco-fashion show and closing celebration. It was an incredible night filled with fun and gorgeous fashions by Linda Loudermilk and Deborah Lindquist. The pinnacle was Al Gore showing up unexpectedly. The experience affirmed my desire to work in service to the planet. Huge kudos to Mayor Gavin Newsom for bringing World Environment Day to San Francisco before green was as in vogue as today.

World Environment Day Closing Celebration 2005

To all those who worry about doom and gloom or feel powerless, I say look at how far we have come in environmental stewardship and consciousness since 2005. We are experiencing a global awakening. Imagine what will be possible in the next 5 years!  This is our moment to embrace new values and take action to regenerate ourselves and our planet. 

Find other events here for World Environment Day, the global celebration of positive action for the environment and us.

Watch a great video of Gisele Bündchen, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador. Read all about this stunning supermodel going green in Vogue's April issue.

Go Wild on Endangered Species Day

Celebrate the animal kingdom with WildAid on May 21 in San Francisco and go a little wild on Endangered Species Day.  Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, hear about innovative strategies that save wildlife, mingle with fellow animal lovers, and much more. 

WILDAID CELEBRATION

WHEN:
Friday, May 21, 2010
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

WHERE:
The University Club
800 Powell Street at California, San Francisco

FEATURING:
Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a lively expert panel discussion, mingling with environmental leaders and animal lovers, and more wild-inspired fun. Get a jump on the fantastic silent auction. See the items and bid early or from afar!

RSVP:
Complimentary
Send your rsvp to Erin Sullivan at sullivan at wildaid dot org
415-834-3174

About WildAid:
WildAid is an innovative and highly-effective wildlife conservation organization whose motto is “When the buying stops, the killing can too.”  WildAid works on the often overlooked demand side of the equation.  For example, they run high-profile advertising campaigns in Asia with celebrities and Olympic athletes to reduce the unsustainable consumption of wildlife and build grassroots political support for conservation.  Their recent campaigns to save tigers, sharks, rhinos, and ocean hot spots have been very successful, and they are hot on the trail of more results. See their cool ad campaigns and learn more at www.wildaid.org

When I first decided to dedicate my life to the environment in 2004, WildAid was the first organization I called.  I am thrilled to serve on the host committee for their 2010 Endangered Species Day celebration event.  For me it boils down to one central question. What kind of world do we want to live in:  one in which elephants, tigers, and whales are alive and thriving – or one in which they are extinct?  Many of these iconic species are on the brink, and it is really now or never to save them.  That is why I am prioritizing animal conservation this year and beyond. When we save the wildlife and their homes in the great forests and oceans, we save ourselves in the process, and we preserve a world filled with beauty and magic.

As WildAid says, "“When we all come together, we can do anything.”  Come join us for the festivities!

Having a Green Ball

Join us for the Green Ball on Friday, May 21st at 1 Fort Mason in San Francisco benefiting Friends of the Earth. It promises to be a ball! 

WHEN:
Friday, May 21, 2010
6:00 pm:  VIP Pre-Party
7:30 pm:  The Green Ball

WHERE:
The Officer’s Club at 1 Fort Mason, San Francisco

HOST COMMITTEE:
Honorary Chairs:  Jayni & Chevy Chase
Co-Chairs:  Linda Gordon and Russell Long
Hosts:  Christopher Burg, Lisa Maria Burkhard, Kimo Campbell, Elizabeth Cooper, Jeff Glueck and Amy Ziff, Marion Hunt, Jim and Linda Kuhns, Garrett Loube, Monica Maduro, Lori Puccinelli Stern, Edward Reidy, Mark Rhoades, Marcia Rodgers, Stuart Rudick, Magdolna Rozs, Carole Shattil, Laura Wais, Nadine Weil

FEATURING:

• Award ceremony hosted by Doug McConnell
• Honorary guests
• Delicious locally-sourced, organic cuisine
• Biodynamic wines
• Gorgeous views of Aquatic Park
• Amazing eco-auction
• Music from the groovy band Moonalice

RSVP:
Visit Green Ball to reserve your spot
or call 415-544-0790 ext 212

If you purchase your ticket by May 17, your ticket price is just $100.

About Friends of the Earth:
The mission of Friends of the Earth is to create a healthy and just world.  I have been very impressed with their leadership in taking on issues early such as exposing nanoparticles in personal care products, encouraging cruise ships to stop polluting the seas, and advocating for a strong climate and energy bill. www.foe.org

Here are a fun photos from last year's party. We look forward to seeing you at the Green Ball!