The party setting at Rancho Valencia
Mules kicked off the evening.
Up in lights: a tribute to the late actor
Katherine and Kevin Faulconer
Jess Jacobs, Dan Hassa and Lelia Symington
Jess Jacobs, Dan Hassa and Lelia Symington
Sandra Ambotaite, Amy Purdy and Gin Ambotaite
Sandra Ambotaite, Amy Purdy and Gin Ambotaite
Dennis Goodman, Andre Agassi, Tracy Smaller and Gershon Jaffe
THE PARTY
Nearly 500 guests came out to Rancho Valencia for A Celebration of Will, hosted by the Challenged Athletes Foundation, to honor the legacy of its most famous patron, Robin Williams.
THE PEOPLE
The gala was co-chaired by Rancho Valencia’s owners, Jeff Jacobs and Jeffrey Essakow. Notables included tennis great Andre Agassi; NBA icon Bill Walton; Amy Purdy, a CAF athlete who appeared on Dancing With the Stars; and Bob Babbitt, Ironman legend and CAF co-founder.
BEST IN SHOW
Williams’ three children presented three grants as part of CAF’s new endowment in their father’s memory. CAF, which is based in San Diego, has raised more than $60 million, helping more than 9,500 people with disabilities to live a more active, athletic lifestyle. For the last decade, Williams was an active participant in many CAF events, including the annual bike ride that starts in La Jolla. “He always said it was like coming back to family,” says Jacobs, an avid cyclist. The evening included a moving tribute to the late actor, along with a rollicking auction and high-energy dance performance by Purdy. Most meaningfully, guests were able to mingle with many of the athletes whose lives have been bettered by CAF’s support. -Photos by Anthony Baca
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