Damion Matthews
For over 20 years Ann and Gordon Getty have hosted some of the most notable figures in the arts, politics, science and philanthropy at their beautiful Pacific Heights home. They’ve had Hollywood actors, European royalty, Nobel laureates, and just last year, Barack Obama. But just as important as the A-List events that they take part in are the smaller philanthropic and intellectual activities they support in the home.
In just the past month they’ve opened their doors for the two events documented below by photographer Drew Altizer. One involves teddy bears, and the other is concerned with nuclear bombs. If that doesn’t give you a sense of the wide range of issues concerning Mr. and Mrs. Getty we don’t know what will!
The first event was the annual Snuggly Soiree, which raises awareness for the Glogau Teddy Bear Rescue Fund at UCSF Children’s Hospital.
The Glogau Teddy Bear Rescue Fund was established at UCSF Children’s Hospital by Dermatologist Dr. Richard Glogau and his wife, Pamela Baj Glogau, to provide support for pediatric patients and their families. UCSF Children’s Hospital cares for children from across the United States. This fund helps fill special needs that insurance and government funds cannot provide helping patients throughout critical hospitalization and long periods away from home. Funds are used for food, transportation, housing, medications, special medical equipment, interpreters, tutors, and amenities.
A few weeks after the Snuggly Soiree, Ann and Gordon Getty hosted a book reading from “Physics for Future Presidents,” by Richard A. Muller, a physicist from U. C. Berkeley.
The book tells you everything you will need to know about nuclear bombs, nuclear waste and radiation. It’s an eye-opening look at our new world of terrorist threats, anthrax attacks, radioactivity and nuclear madness.
Photos: Drew Altizer