San Francisco Dinner Kick-Off Event : Feb. 3, 2005

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The San Francisco Dinner Kickoff Party was brimming with bonhomie at Moose's on Thursday February 3rd.
Honoree Jon K. Folan, longtime AIF supporter and national Board Member will receive the Distinguished Leadership Award on Friday March 11th at the St. Francis Hotel. Jon's family and many friends were out in force along with fellow Board Members Maryon Davies Lewis, Pauline Ryan, Craig Sullivan, Bill Walsh and our hard-working Consul General, Donal Denham.

San Francisco Examiner columnist P. J. Corkery described the scene:

On a Thursday night, The American Ireland Fund, a top-notch group that has done much to promote reconciliation and education throughout Ireland, gathered together to kick off plans for its annual dinner, which will be held March 11 at the Westin St. Francis. That great and witty lady Maryon Davies Lewis and those fine gentlemen Red Fay, Tom Jordan, Brian P. Burns (who is to Irish painting what the Medicis were to Italian) and Bill Matson Roth have been stewarding this group and its good work for years. But though it's obvious just from those few names that the Irish have done rather well in San Francisco, they stay close to their roots. Passed around Thursday night at Moose's were miniature, thimble-size baked potatoes -- but filled with caviar. ...

This year's dinner isn't merely swank and charitable, it's significant. And although it's being held close to St. Patrick's Day, when all ministers of the Irish Republic are busy, Dublin is sending the Deputy Prime Minister herself, Mary Harney, to the San Francisco event. ... It was all "If you're Irish, come into the parlor," at Moose's on Thursday, and amongst those creating some gab were that charming, lovely lady Kathleen Ryan, mother of U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan ... Anita and Red Fay, heads of the San Francisco clan ... up-and-coming Meagan Levitan ... Irish Consul General Donal Denham and star diplomat Siobhan Denham ... achiever Bart Murphy ... Jerry Brown, in from Oakland ... trekker Pat Goggin ... bloomin' Ken Flower ... and honoree Jon Folan

© P.J. Corkery of the San Francisco Examiner

Party guests included dinner committee members Siobhan Denham, Phil Kearney, Tim Lucey, Nola Masterson and Suzi Tinsley.
Frank Corsini, Maura Morey, Jim & Clare McGovern, Greg Murphy, Sheila Kiernan and Frank Sinnott were also in attendance.
They were joined by Ted Ammiro, Mark and Lynn Bozora, Mark Brosche, Avery Chope, John Farnsworth, Steve and Sally
Harper, Ray & Marie O'Flaherty and Rene and David Whitehead.
According to San Francisco Regional Director, Marjorie Muldowney " The response to Jon Folan as our honoree has been so
terrific, we'd like to book him for the next five years!" Roll on March 11th.

Annual Dinner 2005 : More Information >

If you'd like to attend the San Francisco dinner, please contact Maryanne Murray at (415)564-3846. Do come!