Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com 

July 24^th Preview Party for Breast Cancer Emergency Fund Draws International Crowd

Next Up: 15^th Anniversary “This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse” Fundraising Gala at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel on October 25

www.bcef.org 

26 July 2019 – San Francisco, CA:   It was an international night for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund “This Old Bag” reception at the Clift Hotel’s Redwood Room. On hand to preview classic and exquisite purses from Hermès and the closets of such celebs as Sharon Stone were several Consuls General and representatives of Consulates such as: Hungarian Consul General Eva Voisin & husband Paul; Peruvian Consul General Hernando Torres-Fernández and wife Adriana; Belgium Consul General Nathalia Delrue-McGuire, Noeleen Pattison from the Irish Consulate; Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival, and Alison Healy, Executive Director of Alliance for Smiles, getting ready for several global missions this year to restore the smiles of youth with cleft lips and palates. Donors of some of the most exquisite bags on display were popular as they made the rounds, including master leather artisan Beatrice Amblard of April in Paris, and Julian Lopez, who donated two vintage Hermès bags valued at a combined $17,500. 

In addition, top Breast Cancer Emergency Fund supporter Judith Branch was on-hand sporting her new Judith Leiber sparkling handbag along with “This Old Bag” mega sponsors Rose Coyle and Greg Boudreaux. Mike Smith, co-founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and past Executive Director of the AIDS Emergency / Breast Cancer Emergency on-hand chatted up the legendary Donna Sachet (sporting a fire engine red dress and purse to match signed by Christina Aguilera from a previous “TOB”) and the uber generous Hilton Community Projects Manager, Jo Licata.

The Clift Hotel Party was  a preview “Friend Raiser” for the upcoming 15^th Anniversary “This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse”  fundraiser taking place on Friday, October 25 at San Francisco’s historic Fairmont Hotel. Both events feature fashionistas, philanthropists and those for whom cancer is a personal and professional cause to raise funds – and awareness – in the fight against breast cancer. The now iconic event brings together men, women, fashion icons, celebrities from sports, politics and the entertainment industries all with one goal in mind: donate, display and sell fabulous handbags for a good cause: helping people with breast cancer. This year, in addition to a record number of new designs and international contributions, Liam Mayclem, award-winning “Foodie Chap” of KCBS / KCBS 5, will serve up British wit and continental charm as celebrity emcee and auctioneer.

“It was so good to be back at the Clift where 15 years ago we held our first ‘This Old Bag.’ The whole event left me filled with love, gratitude and pride,” said Cynthia Hester, President of Breast Cancer Emergency Fund’s Board of Directors. “I especially enjoyed seeing past and present donors, volunteers and staff. We are a community dedicated to supporting those in need. I left the event feeling inspired and with renewed commitment to the BCEF mission.”

Since its inception in 2005, This Old Bag has sold over 2,500 bags to help Bay Area women and men during their challenging diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. The idea: fundraising for breast cancer need not be dull. In fact, it should be fun and life-affirming. Over the last 15 years, artists, artisans, celebrities, politicians, and local fashion mavens have all been inspired by the “power of the purse,” donating glamorous, unique and one-of-a-kind handbags for the benefit of the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. A small sampling has included:

• Limited-edition Dior handbag donated by Sharon Stone
• Vintage Hermès Birkin bags donated by Ann Getty
• Levi’s men’s messenger bag donated by Rev. Cecil Williams
• Gianni Versace bag worn to the Academy Awards by Minnie Driver
• Liberto Ferrero black leather bag donated by Robert Downey, Jr. 
• Proenza Schuler bag donated by Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Those donated handbags have a huge impact. “The average monthly income of our clients is $825,” said Karen Edwards, BCEF’s Interim Executive Director, a number that sits in stark contrast to the soaring rents in the Bay Area. “Unfortunately, a diagnosis of breast cancer often means losing your job, your insurance, and your home. Breast Cancer Emergency Fund provides a safety net that no one else provides, paying essential bills like rent, utilities, and insurance premiums that make it possible to maintain a stable living situation during treatment.”

Breast Cancer Emergency Fund exists to fill that very need: providing immediate financial assistance to low-income people battling breast cancer when they are too sick to work. Since 2001, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund has served over 4,000 people in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, providing over $3.6 million dollars in assistance to help our clients maintain financial stability during a devastating illness.

For more information about Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, and further to-be-announced details about the 15^th Anniversary This Old Bag: The Power of the Purse at San Francisco’s storied Fairmont Hotel on Friday, October 25, please go online to www.bcef.org 

David Perry Named to Board of San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

25 July 2019 – San Francisco: Longtime public relations professional and communications strategist David Perry has been named to the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Perry is the founder / CEO of David Perry & Associates, Inc (www.davidperry.com).

“I am deeply honored to join the Chamber Board in supporting San Francisco, the City that knows how to build business and support the community in equal measure,” said Perry, 57. “San Francisco has long understood that one does well by doing good. Like any large city, we have challenges. I look forward to working on those challenges with my colleagues.”

Perry joins fellow new board members Cammy Blackstone, Tony Calabrese, Stephanie Isaacson, Mike McGee, Julie Rosendahl, Kate Sofis, and John Viola.

DP&A, Inc. clients include Alliance for Smiles, the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, singer Breanna Sinclairé, George Lucas’ Skywalker Properties, Kilroy Real Estate, AsiaSF, URI, Manny’s, Dezart Performs, the Cathedral City Senior Center, author Jim Haas, the International Ocean Film Festival and VisitRichmondCA among others.

In addition, he has worked on such high profile city-wide projects as the Running of the Olympic Torch, Home For Halloween, America’s Cup, Super Bowl 50, Bay to Breakers, New Year’s Eve, the recent Grace Cathedral / Notre Dame Solidarity Concert, Tony Bennett Way and the Rugby World Cup Sevens International Championship.

Perry is the co-founder and president of the LGBT nonprofit Rainbow Honor Walk and a member of SF Travel, the San Francisco Hotel Council, the Desert Business Association, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Golden Gate Business Association. Perry was the creator / host of “10 Percent”, with over 351 episodes, the longest running LGBT TV show in California history.

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Perry moved to San Francisco in 1986. Perry and his husband / business partner, Alfredo Casuso, have been together since 1998 and were married in 2008.

Media Contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours Honored
as First San Francisco Legacy Business Tour Company
www.cruisinthecastro.com 

9 July 2019 – San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Small Business Commission unanimously approved Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours as the city’s first and only Legacy Business Tour Company (www.cruisinthecastro.com). Recognized for providing 30 consecutive years as a longstanding, community-servicing business and a valuable cultural asset to the City and County of San Francisco.

Founded in 1989 by local historian Trevor Hailey who was inspired by the social and political upheaval of gay and lesbian rights in America. Trevor became an icon as well as, the orator of the Castro community for 16 years. Upon her retirement in 2005, travel professional and Castro resident Kathy Amendola, purchased Cruisin’ the Castro and continues to educate and empower people from around the globe on LGBTQ history and lack civil rights.

“It’s been a tremendous opportunity for me to call the Castro community my home. So much of LGBTQ history, activism and culture started in San Francisco. Over the past 14 years, my job went from being a tour guide to a civil rights activist. And following pioneers like Del Martin, Phyllis Lyon, Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones and Carole Migden is a tremendous honor”, Amendola claims. “As a diverse culture, we don’t have visibility or equal rights in America nor many parts of the world where homosexuality/diversity is still illegal or a worse, a death sentence. My tour gives people the education and knowledge to make differences in their lives and communities. This is how we change the world, one heart at a time”, she added.

Kathy’s favorite story to share includes the Pink Triangle Park & Memorial and the rose quartz stones that fill the triangle. Visitors are encouraged to take the stones and spread pride throughout the world. One tourist from Germany, Kai Klose, a member of the Green Party in the German Parliament was so inspired that he returned to Germany and decided to come out with his sexuality in his job. Not only that, but for 7 years carried his rose quartz while making speeches in the Parliament about incorporating

LGBTQ laws into Germany’s government. In 2017, Germany legalized same-sex marriage and it was Kai’s party that was the forefront of the whole movement! Kathy and Kai did reunite and remain friends to this day.

Over the past 30 years, the Castro neighborhood has changed as the spectrum of sexuality and gender diversity has become more “visible”. No longer an exclusively white, male, homosexual haven, the emergence of bi-sexuality, pansexuality, and a- sexuality (to name a few!), has become much more prevalent in straight looking people.

Community involvement is a big issue for Kathy. Thru the years, she has served on many organizational Board of Directors and is currently an Emeritus Board Member for the Rainbow Honor Walk, bronze sidewalk plaques in the Castro honoring famous LGBTQ people whom have impacted history, as well as, the Pink Triangle Park & Memorial, America’s first in remembering homosexual men persecuted during WWII.

Noting her professional achievements, the San Francisco Police Department in 2017, began hiring Kathy to train their new cadet classes. To date, over 400 new officers have received LGBTQ cultural training to better understand and service this unique community.

Through the decades, it hasn’t always been easy for the single, women owned tour business. With the ebbs and flow of the economy, political tugs of war pertaining to LGBTQ rights, the deadly AIDS epidemic and global warming, their biggest threat that came to the industry however, has been the rash of “free or pays as you please”, tour companies. Some with big advertising budgets and volunteer guides. Many uninsured and most illegally operating without San Francisco tour guide licenses. “It’s

tremendously hard for any business to compete against “free”, quotes Amendola. Regardless, Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours persevered to a highly respected and award-winning company offering the most comprehensive LGBTQ tour in the world. It’s a rare and exceptional San Francisco business created by two passionate women spanning 30 years. Through their colorful characters, heartfelt stories, cultural knowledge and political activism, they’ve lived history and like ripples, continue to change history.

Cruisin’ the Castro Walking Tours operates public Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 12pm. Private educational, corporate and group tours are available upon request. Visit www.cruisinthecastro.com