Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

World’s Most Unique Holiday Tree — A gift to the world from the LGBTQ Community Promoting Peace, Love and Humanitarian Action

People Around the World Asked to Submit “Wishes for the Future of the World” to be hung on tree decorated with up to 17,000 Folded Origami Cranes — the largest such annual installation on the planet

The 14th Rainbow World Fund “World Tree of Hope”
at Grace Cathedral December 8 – January 11

www.worldtreeofhope.org 

13 November 2019 – San Francisco:  Wishes are powerful: they are the seeds of action. For the 14^th year, those seeds bear fruit. At 23 feet tall with up to 17,000 delicately folded origami paper cranes, the Rainbow World Fund World Tree of Hope is a visible symbol of a world hungry for connection and peace. The Tree will be displayed at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street atop Nob Hill) from December 8, 2019 to January 11, 2020, open daily from 8am to 8pm. Since its first year, tens of thousands of wishes have adorned the tree, sent in by email and online from people in over seventy countries.

“We created the World Tree of Hope to inspire hope and to encourage people to think about what they would like for the future of the world, and then take action,” said Jeff Cotter, Rainbow World Fund founder and executive director. “The tree illustrates that while a single person’s offering is valuable, the collective effort of many possesses great power and strength. If each person would do just one small thing that is good for our world today, we will be better off tomorrow than we were yesterday.”

The process is simple: Wishes are sent in from around the world, printed, and folded into paper origami cranes by a diverse team of more than 300 Rainbow World Fund volunteers including members ofSan Francisco’s LGBTQ and Japanese American communities, survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, local children, and life-sentence prisoners from San Quentin. The origami “crane wishes” are then placed on the tree.  The process takes over 2500 hours. Wishes may be submitted by mail to RWF World Tree of Hope / 4111 18^th Street # 5 / San Francisco, CA 94114 or online at www.worldtreeofhope.org. Submitting a wish is free and open to everyone. Wishes will be added to the tree throughout December and are accepted year round.

Previous notable wishes on the tree have included President Barack Obama, Dame Jane Goodall, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Arianna Huffington, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Isabel Allende, the late SF Mayor Edwin M. Lee, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Mariela Castro, Mātā Amṛtānandamayī Devī, the late Shirley Temple Black, Frances Moore Lappe, Danielle Steel, the late Patty Duke, Sharon Gless, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Phyllis Diller, Stanlee Gatti and RuPaul.  Samples of celebrity and children’s wishes are at https://www.worldtreeofhope.org/celebrity-wishes 

“A world for our children more just, more fair, and more kind than the one we know now.” – President Barack Obama

“I dare to wish for a world in which people live in harmony with each other and with the natural world and all the wondrous animals with whom we share the planet.” – Dame Jane Goodall

“The Rainbow World Fund’s World Tree of Hope is a gift to the San Francisco Bay Area and the world  express our shared hopes and intentions to create a better, more peaceful world,” says Cotter. “Each crane or star is hand folded and inscribed with wishes for the future of the planet. This is much more than a Holiday decoration: it is a global symbol of unity and hope for a better world and a unique and inspirational feature as we look forward to a new year.”

The Tree was inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, the Japanese child whose journey and death several years after the bomb was dropped in Hiroshima transformed the origami crane into a symbol of world peace. The Rainbow World Fund’s World Tree of Hope is the largest annual origami decorated holiday tree in the world.

“The Rainbow World Fund World Tree of Hope taps into two of our most powerful resources – the human mind and heart,” Cotter sums up. “It gives individuals a way to join together to express our hopes and intentions for the future of our global community. It is a celebration of the power of hope — how essential it is to our survival, our healing and humanity”

This will be the third year that Grace Cathedral has hosted the tree. In addition to being a beautiful venue that is open to the public, Grace Cathedral has a tradition of welcoming people of all faiths and spiritualities and being a strong supported of the LGBTQ community. Tree is created by Rainbow World Fund, an LGBTQ based nonprofit.  The Tree’s purpose is purely humanitarian with a message one of universal love. It is for everyone regardless of belief or non-belief. The tree was previous displayed at San Francisco City Hall for eleven years. 

The RWF World Tree of Hope is made possible through the support of the many volunteers and donors including: members of San Francisco’s LGBTQ and Japanese American communities, Friends of Hibakusha (local survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb), Kid CAT (life-sentence prisoners from San Quentin), Sterne School, University High School, Lowell High School key Club, Japanese Community Youth Council, the Junior League of San Francisco, The Bridgemen, One Brick, National Civilian Community Corps,  Galileo Academy, Anyon Design, and Salesforce.

The official tree lighting celebration is Tuesday, December 10 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The dedication ceremony will featuring attendance by Consul General of Japan Tomochika Uyama and performances by the Grammy winning San Francisco Boys Chorus, Juanita MORE, Lambert Moss, Connie Champagne and Breanna Sinclairé with a blessing by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence with emcee Honey Mahogany.

Founded by Cotter in 2000, the 501(c)3 nonprofit Rainbow World Fund is the world’s first and only all-volunteer, LGBTQ-based humanitarian aid organization. The Fund works to help people affected by natural disasters, hunger, poverty, disease, oppression and war by raising awareness in, and funds from, the LGBTQ community to support LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people locally and around the world.

 Recent projects in Cuba, Guatemala, Iraq, Mexico, Syria, Uganda and the United States focused on a variety of humanitarian areas including: HIV/AIDS, water development, landmine eradication, hunger, education, orphans, and disaster relief.  Rainbow World Fund also works to raise awareness of the charitable contributions of the LGBTQ community, and to establish connections with non-LGBTQ communities around the world based on its philosophy is that we are all “One Human Family” and that we are living in a time that tells us that our survival on this planet depends on us all giving more to each other. Rainbow World Fund’s work changes hearts and minds.

LINKS: 

World Tree of Hope: https://www.worldtreeofhope.org 

Assets and high-resolution images Tree are at: http://www.rainbowfund.org/images-and-assests 

Rainbow World Fund: http://www.rainbowfund.org 

Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com 

November 2 OFF THE REEF Fall Benefit for International Ocean Film Festival Raises over $ 150,000 for Nonprofit Festival

17^th Annual Event Honored Dr. Sylvia Earle Swedish Eco Activist Greta Thunberg 

www.intloceanfilmfest.org 

11 November 2019 – San Francisco, CA: It was an evening of generational inspiration at San Francisco’s Bently Reserve on Saturday, November 2 as San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival (www.intloceanfilmfest.org) honored two “Ocean Champions”: Dr. Sylvia Earle and Swedish Climate Change activist Greta Thunberg. In addition, the 17^th annual “Off the Reef” Fall Benefit previewed upcoming films for the Festival, taking place in and around San Francisco March 12 – 15, 2020 and also raised over $ 150,000 to further its nonprofit mission: Saving Our Oceans, One Film at a Time.

“We were thrilled with all the positive energy in the room,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival of the sold-out event. “Honoring the legacies of these two ocean champions, Sylvia Earle and Greta Thunberg, was an inspiration to everyone there.”

“Our highest priority must be to keep the world safe,” Earle said in remarks to the crowd. “How do we do that?  Protect the air, protect the water, protect the fabric of life that makes our existence possible. The ocean is what makes Earth: no ocean, no life, no blue. no green, no us.”

“It is a great privilege for me to stand in front of you here representing one of the most powerful — and brave — young people on this planet,” said Swedish Consul General Barbro Osher, accepting Thuberg’s Award. Osher will deliver the award to Thunberg in Sweden.  “Thank you so much for acknowledging the power of a very young, and very, very thoughtful and very clever young woman with a lot of climate courage in her.  She’s been demonstrating outside of the Swedish Parliament every Friday — rain or shine or snow. That message has left Sweden and now gone around the world. Greta Thunberg stands up in all of her 150 centimeters and says ‘wake up world, wake up!’”

Later, in a nod to her fellow honoree Earle remarked: “I think about Greta and her insight as a child who has taken the distillation of what now is known and she sort of cuts through it all and asks the question ‘Why aren’t we taking seriously the knowledge that is there?’That the planet that existed 100 years ago is not the same planet that we have now in ways that are alarming in terms of our capacity to go forward with the air, the water, the fabric of life that keeps us alive.’”

Osher quoted from Greta Thunberg’s book No-one Is Too Small To Make A Difference:  “Adults keep saying we owe it to the young people to have hope.  But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day and then I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis.  And then, I want you to act as if our house is on fire, because it is.”

As is its eco-friendly tradition, the “Off The Reef” Benefit featured sustainable, vegan food and drink, lively entertainment and a series of sought-after auction items including a luxury 10-day expedition to the Galapagos aboard the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II. Valued at more than $ 17,000 the adventure cruise was graciously donated by Lindblad Expeditions. 

Commonly referred to as “The Sundance of ocean film festivals”, since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 50 films from 15 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Current sponsors for the 17^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, BigBus of San Francisco, Gray Line Tours, SSA, Alcatraz Cruises, the Port of San Francisco and Pacific Gas & Electric. 

The 17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival takes place March 12 – 15, 2020 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit. www.intloceanfilmfest.org and social at: 

• https://www.facebook.com/intloceanfilmfest
• Twitter @oceanfilmfest
• Instagram @intloceanfilmfest

4  November 2019
By Laura Ricci (English translation by Erika Bizzarri)

Upon This Rock: A Searing Thriller Set In Orvieto.

Novel Published in 2020 in US and Europe

In America if a publisher decides to invest in an author, it generally has to be someone with whom the public is already acquainted, someone capable of creating an original and innovative plot that is well documented and credible, and whose author is enterprising with an eye to the future.  This explains why the novels of so many English-language authors fall into specific categories dealing with subjects with which they are thoroughly acquainted.  Take Michael Crichton, who trained as a doctor and is known for his medical fiction, and John Grisham, an attorney and politician best known for his legal thrillers, while John Le Carrè worked for the Secret Service Intelligence and his novels deal with espionage.

David Eugene Perry, though a first-time author, has written a novel that meets all requirements for success, and puts him in the category of what sometimes goes by the name of a “high concept author.” A Californian, who lives in San Francisco and Palm Springs with his husband, Alfredo Casuso, he is CEO of the public relations firm David Perry & Associates Inc., and is host/producer of the TV show 10 Percent.  He has traveled widely but like so many other American expats who have chosen Orvieto as their second home he keeps returning to this Umbrian town. His first novel, Upon This Rock,to be published by Pace Press in 2020, reflects his vast web of contacts, his passion for historical-literary studies and his gift for storytelling. 

Upon This Rock is being launched in the United States, while an Italian translation will be published more or less contemporaneously with the English original.  A pre-launch party in Orvieto gave me a chance to meet the author and discuss his novel, which is bound to cause a stir among the Orvietani. 

Orvieto is the setting: that small Italian town with its fascinating history and lively present steeped in tradition. The reader will be captivated by the spectacular plot of Upon this Rock, a title that alludes not only to the tufa cliff on which the city stands but also to the founding of the Christian Church by Peter. Intrigue, history, art, the secrets of the Church and powerful conspiracies will rivet the reader’s attention before arriving at the surprising denouement.  In its breathtaking succession of events, Orvieto is not simply the backdrop for the story, but the protagonist. 

As the chapters unfold, we move from Rome to Ireland to Civita di Bagnoregio and the Church of San Donato.  Historically it has been thoroughly documented, with attention centered on the real figures of three popes, Clement VII of the Sack of Rome, who then took refuge in the natural fortress of Orvieto, Benedict XVI, and today’s Pope Francis. Very much a work of fiction, Upon This Rock is grounded deeply in history. An important part is played by the conflicts between the American and the Roman Catholic Church, of particular interest to the author. But, you may ask, what of the the plot itself?  Here’s a summary so as not to give away the exciting finale.

In an attempt to come to terms with the death of a dear friend, Lee Maury, public relations executive in San Francisco, and his husband, Adriano, arrive in Umbria’s crown jewel, Orvieto.  They fall in love with the town and its inhabitants. Lee is particularly intrigued by a tragic event that took place a year ago but whose effects still linger on: After being refused ordination, the beloved young deacon, Andrea, committed suicide by throwing himself from the cliff. The coincidences between Lee’s life and that of Andrea begin to haunt him. They were the same age, both wanted to become priests, both were haunted by death. Lee’s obsession with Andrea turns him into an amateur detective. 

All those Lee and Adriano meet in Orvieto are connected to Andrea in one way or another and feel responsible for his tragic leap from “the rock”: The handsome Grigori, ex Swiss Guard turned bisexual hustler; Don Bello, Orvieto’s gentle elderly priest; Lady Peg, the gossipy American blogger; Luka, the young and enigmatic German doctor; La Dona Volsini, the irascible ninety-year old baker and her grandson Marco, enamored of the Unites States; Dawud the immigrant musician and his sister Maryam, a victim of black market smugglers; the gutsy Episcopal priest Reverend Vicki; the new Catholic bishop of Orvieto, Arnaud, a member of Opus Dei; Cardinal Maltoni, powerful head of the Vatican press office; and Magda, mysterious and beautiful US bureaucrat. There is even a cat named Clemente whose role is anything but minor. 

As Lee and Adriano try to understand what ties all these figures to Andrea’s suicide, they stumble on a terrorist conspiracy, an international sex and human trafficking ring and a plot, to literally, bring down the Roman Catholic Church. Before they know it, their sabbatical turns into a race to save innocent lives – including their own — in this incredible page turner.

Anyone who has even a passing acquaintance with Orvieto’s Medieval history and its current day-to-day life can’t help but be aware of the fact that there is a strong resemblance between the real-life figures of today and their imaginary counterparts in Perry’s fictional narrative. Upon This Rock is dedicated to the real-life deacon Luca Seidita, who put an end to his life the night of November 30, 2010. Exactly four years later — November 30, 2014 — Perry and Casuso, coincidently, arrived in Orvieto and found the locals still buzzing about the story. Thus, was literary inspiration given voice. 

When asked what attracted him to Orvieto, and why he keeps returning “to this Rock” (Perry and his husband return to Orvieto once or twice a year)– aside from documenting his book – the answer was  simple: The people.  Like so many Americans who stop here briefly or for a greater amount of time, Perry notes that what singles the city out is its livability, the fascinating atmosphere of history and culture, its welcoming friendly inhabitants, and its strategic location. 

With memories long lived in Orvieto, the subject of Perry’s Upon This Rock, will undoubtedly cause a stir. Just as inevitable, is the light that it will shine on Orvieto and on this emerging author. 

Media Contact: David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Kilroy Realty Uses Creative Visualization Strategies to Market Brand and Portfolio.

New Content on Media Wall at 100 First Street Takes Viewers
Onto San Francisco Bay with the US Sailing Team.

8 November 2019 – San Francisco: This week, Kilroy Realty unveils a progressive new visual on the Okta Media Wall at 100 First Street’s lobby in San Francisco. This larger-than-life feature showcases world-class athletes, bringing the public as close as possible to the US Sailing Team without getting wet.   

“Kilroy’s new content on the Okta Media Wall at 100 First uniquely showcases our brand and our partnership with the US Sailing Team,” says John Kilroy, Kilroy’s Chairman and CEO, noting that the video loops throughout the day, Monday through Friday during high-volume times. “The content is artistic, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind. Kilroy is committed to delivering innovative strategies that elevate social spaces, amplify our brand, and create immersive digital experiences within our properties.”

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/371730114

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfALoTzCbQA

The Okta Media Wall at 100 First is one of three such large-scale media installations within Kilroy’s San Francisco portfolio. The others are located at 350 Mission, which showcases public art, and Kilroy’s Innovation Center used to market their pipeline development projects, including the San Francisco Flower Mart and Kilroy Oyster Point. Large-format media walls are an example of how Kilroy uses technology and state-of-the-art visualization to market their brand and portfolio.

Kilroy’s media wall at the Kilroy Innovation Center allows viewers to virtually step into the future properties without the use of VR equipment. It is set up to visualize spaces at a 1-to-1 scale. The wall’s stats are impressive:

• 35’5” wide by 15’9” tall
• 2.5-millimeter pixel pitch (very tight resolution for a display of this magnitude)
• 8.3 million pixels 
• Over 4K resolution
• Multi-zone audio system with 5.1 surround sound
• Curved at 90 degrees for inclusive, immersive viewer experience

“The scale and complexities of our projects are ever-growing,” Kilroy continues. “To communicate the true experience of our developments requires a multitude of touch-points. We integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as our media walls, as a way to showcase our project’s programming through virtual experiences.”

“Thoughtful and awe-inspiring content curation for these large media walls is incredibly important to capture people’s imaginations,” Erik Altman of Zoetic, co-owner of the creative agency commissioned by Kilroy to produce the public video for the Okta Media Wall at 100 First.  “Content at this scale works best when slowed down, almost stopping time. It’s meant to feel surreal. These pieces are powerful branding opportunities.”

Photos of the 350 Mission and Kilroy Innovation Center: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5awyh3y7cz0v7qg/AABrfYpcoWFvod3m5uveRCeua?dl=0

About Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), a publicly traded real estate investment trust and member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, is one of the West Coast’s premier landlords. The company has over 70 years of experience developing, acquiring and managing office and mixed-use real estate assets. The company provides physical work environments that foster creativity and productivity and serves a broad roster of dynamic, innovation-driven tenants, including technology, entertainment, digital media and health care companies.

At September 30, 2019, the company’s stabilized portfolio totaled approximately 13.3 million square feet of office space located in the coastal regions of Los Angeles, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Seattle and 200 residential units located in the Hollywood submarket of Los Angeles. The stabilized portfolio was 92.1% occupied and 97.3% leased. In addition, KRC had six projects totaling approximately 2.3 million square feet of office and life science space that were 63% leased and 564 residential units under construction. KRC also completed 237 residential units, with a third of the units leased, and had two projects in the tenant improvement phase, The Exchange on 16th, totaling approximately 750,000 square feet, with the office space fully leased to Dropbox, and 96,000 square feet of retail at One Paseo, which was 100% leased.

The company’s commitment and leadership position in sustainability has been recognized by various industry groups across the world. In September 2019, the company was recognized by GRESB as the sustainability leader in the Americas across all asset classes for the fifth time. Other sustainability accolades include NAREIT’s Leader in the Light award for the past five years and the EPA’s highest honor of ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence award for the past four years. The company is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. At the end of the third quarter, the company’s stabilized portfolio was 61% LEED certified and 72% of eligible properties were ENERGY STAR certified. More information is available at http://www.kilroyrealty.com.