As we moved into our second decade, The Taylor Family Foundation (TTFF) celebrated milestone after milestone. Not only had camp opened, but the 10th annual Day in the Park fundraiser moved from Barry and Elaine Taylor’s Lafayette backyard to the meadow at Camp Arroyo. The day consisted of camp tours, an Epicurean Ensemble featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest wineries and restaurants and silent and live auctions. A sell-out extravaganza, the event was held in September that year, which was probably a good thing as we were minus the enormous tents which help protect guests from the blazing August sun. Netting $880K, the fundraiser ran from noon to 7 pm. ABC7’s Cheryl Jennings, Bay Area Backroads host, Doug McConnell and renowned wine critic Narsai David helped with emcee duties in the live auction that featured items such as a dinner for six at Rubicon in San Francisco with Marsha and Robin Williams. That auction package brought in $25,000 alone! Always ready to host a party, Elaine put together a Rock N Cajun Dance Party at Camp for 50 guests that sold for $35,000 as well.

Other notable items included an all-expense-paid Paris Penthouse trip for one week, a mini-camp for 10 kids with 49ers’ all-star Steve Young, honorary chair of Day in the Park for nearly 20 years, and a dinner with 49ers’ head coach Steve Mariucci and Raiders’ head coach Jon Gruden.

Throughout the years, Day in the Park has been known for attracting local celebrities. Event guests that year included founding members of Creedence Clearwater, Doug and Lori Clifford and Stu and Laura Cook, Bob Weir from the Grateful Dead, SF 49er Brent Jones and newscasters Dan Ashley and Don Sanchez from ABC7.

Since the beginning, all food and wines served at Day in the Park have been donated. A massive undertaking, Day in the Park is only possible thanks to the aid of nearly 400 volunteers who help set up, manage parking, check-in guests, serve champagne and food at the live auction tables, assist as spotters during the auction and then return the meadow to its pristine state by cleaning up after the event.