This year, the Wender Weis Foundation for Children (WWFC) introduced “Holiday Heroes” to the Bay Area by moving their annual “Halloween Heroes” event to December 7, 2009 during the holiday season. Held at the charming Golden Gate Club in the San Francisco Presidio, the event gave children and families the opportunity to meet local sports athletes while enjoying a winter wonderland of children’s games and activities. The annual event, in its 13th year, aims to offer a one-of-a-kind holiday experience to underprivileged children, supporting a number of local children’s charities.

The festive fundraiser kicked off at 4:30 P.M. with a VIP reception for the Foundation’s most generous contributors hosted by US Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi and her husband, NHL Great Bret Hedican. At 5:30 P.M. the main event began, offering endless holiday fun for all including a silent auction with over 100 items, as well as caroling, cookie decorating, video games, face painting, and opportunities for children to take home holiday gifts and prizes. Celebrity athletes in attendance included San Francisco 49ers players Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis and Brian Jennings, Jon Alston and Chris Morris of the Oakland Raiders, Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants, Joe Cannon, Chris Leitch and Ryan Johnson of the San Jose Earthquakes, and many more. Kristi Yamaguchi and Bret Hedican joined in the fun to explore the activities with their family and snap photos with adoring fans.

Patricia Ferrin Loucks & Charles Loucks joined Stacey & Christopher Caen as chairpersons of this year’s Holiday Heroes, with former chairpersons Susan Solinsky Duryea & Paul Duryea and Lori Puccinelli Stern & Peter Stern returning to the event as Honorary Chairs. Proceeds from the event will benefit Junior Giants Baseball Program, and a variety of other local children’s charities including the 49ers Academy, Always Dream Foundation, Holy Family Day Home, Raphael House, Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center. The Wender Weis Foundation worked with each beneficiary to sponsor 200 underprivileged children and their families to attend the event and join in the holiday spirit.

Pictured above: Kristi Yamaguchi, Peter Wolfe, Sarah Wolfe, Mike Wolfe

Lita Sam-Vargas (Host Committee), Susan Duryea (Honorary Chair), Alan Gevins

Chris Leitch, Dave Benz, Chris Morris

Christopher Caen, Oski, Stacey Caen (Event co-chairs)

For more exclusive photos, please visit our events page.