Maitri Executive Director Tim Patriarca, singer Kim Nalley, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, and his daughter

Supervisor Bevan Dufty threw a special Pre-Bliss 2010 reception for Maitri in his City Hall office on April 14. Maitri provides compassionate residential care to men and women living with AIDS in need of hospice or 24-hour care and cultivates the deepest respect and love for life among its residents and caregivers. This was a way of enticing people to attend the annual fundraiser for Maitri, entitled “Bliss 2010,” to be held in the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio on May 2. 

Maitri’s annual signature fundraising event will be highlighted by Sandra Bernhard who promises to thrill and excite guests with her unique humor. She will also join celebrity designer Carmen Marc Valvo in auctioning off extraordinary live auction items. There will be the return of the beauty bar and massage opportunities again. This stellar event is renowned for superb cuisine, luscious libations, exciting live and silent auctions, exhilarating entertainment, and most of all, a wonderful gathering of Maitri’s friends and supporters. 

“I am thrilled we are back for a second year as a warm-up to the Maitri Bliss event,” said Dufty. “Maitri does such amazing work, but for many of us we don’t get to intersect or receive those services, so this is a way to connect with wonderful people.” He introduced Maitri Executive Director Tim Patriarca. 

“I can feel the love of Maitri in this room,” said Patriarca. “Bevan has been a huge supporter of Maitri over the years, and we are so thankful for that.”

Their goal this year is to raise over $200,000; they are at about $130,000 currently. “I hope that our community will support this, because it all goes back to the program,” he said. Maitri is a 15-bed hospice in San Francisco. “We want to surround people with love and give them the type of care we would want when in the most difficult situation in life,” he said. 

Maitri has been giving compassionate care for 25 years. “Many nights I sit at Maitri and spend time with our wonderful residents,” said Patriarca. “We talk and laugh and recognize that the present moment is a most precious gift no matter what challenges may arise.” He continued, “These residents know that at Maitri they will receive consistent around the clock compassionate care, enabling them to thrive regardless of their circumstances.” He said, “Each of you, individually, make such a difference in the lives of so many.” 

“Many of you know my godmother was Billy Holiday, and this past week was her 90th birthday,” said Dufty, “and I am so pleased to have Kim Nalley here today.”

Nalley is an American jazz and blues vocalist known for her powerful, three and a half octave range. Bliss organizers are hopeful she can sing at the May 2 event as well. 

For Pre-Bliss that afternoon she sang “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” and then did a number from a battle of the bands back when Holiday sang with Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald was with Chick Webb, Holiday’s “Swing, Brother, Swing.” She then sang a childhood favorite of hers from Nina Simone, “In the Evening by the Moonlight,” getting everyone in the room to clap along with gusto. She concluded with an extremely emotional “Stormy Weather” from the 1943 movie of the same title.  

Tickets to Bliss 2010 are available at maitrisf.org or by calling (415) 558-3003.