Grace Cathedral's annual fundraising gala Carnivale, this year entitled "Noite de Carnaval: A Celebration of Joy," took place on the evening of February 13, 2026. The event was inspired by Brazil's Carnival, which began on the same evening in cities such as Rio de Janeiro.
Tickets are on sale for the 15th annual Chefs of Compassion: Cooking for a Cause gala on March 27. The fundraiser benefits West Valley Community Services (WVCS), a nonprofit whose programs support low-income and homeless individuals and families in Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga and West San Jose. The evening features top Bay Area chefs competing to create a multi-course meal using ingredients found in the WVCS pantry, where clients receive food. A panel of professional judges chooses the winner; there's also a people's choice award.
It was the annual Carnivale gala, otherwise known as San Francisco's most glamorous reason to get drunk in a church. I sat for dinner on March 4th among a cohort that felt immediately familiar; Not in the we grew up together way, but in the we survived another year in journalism way. We traded hot takes on uppity columnists, great parties, and how to write about rich people without getting blacklisted.
This fundraiser is so important to our organization because we do not have a steady stream of state or federal funding, aside from a small reimbursement from our regional center partners, said CAA Executive Director Nicole Kim. We rely heavily on our donors to help keep our programs running so that we can continue to offer equitable lifelong education for adults with IDD.
