ON THE MOUNTAIN MO N LIGHT
Save Mount Diablo recognizes that we are on the unceded ancestral lands of the Bay Miwok, Muwekma Ohlone, Northern Valley Yokuts, and other tribes and tribelets— peoples who have loved and cared for Mount Diablo as a sacred mountain since time immemorial. Many of these peoples continue today as thriving members of the diverse communities of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and the larger Diablo Range region. We acknowledge and honor the Bay Miwok, Ohlone, and Northern Valley Yokut tribes, as well as all of the indigenous people of the lands which
Save Mount Diablo serves.
Please! No smoking at the event site. We are in a critical fire danger period.
PHOTO THIS PAGE AND COVER: SCOTT HEIN
LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Supporters,
Welcome to Moonlight on the Mountain 2025 out amidst the mountains, under the stars and moon, as we celebrate and support the conservation of our beautiful Diablo natural lands.
We are grateful for your generous support tonight as it will help advance our time-sensitive efforts to protect Mount Diablo and the mountain range it is part of and sustained by, the Diablo Range.
Your support advances our land acquisition, education, advocacy, and land stewardship efforts focused on protecting our local natural world that sustains and nourishes our communities, including our amazing native flora and fauna like the golden eagle, California condor, Mount Diablo globe lily, Blainville’s horned lizard, and blunt-nosed leopard lizard. Nature is the ultimate foundation for all communities.
Eat, drink, dance, and be merry tonight celebrating our gorgeous Diablo natural lands that you are helping to protect.
Thanks for your support, and thanks to our wonderful sponsors, partners, volunteers, and staff who have done much to make this year’s Moonlight on the Mountain a great success.
Enjoy the evening and bid early and often!
With Gratitude,
Edward Sortwell Clement, Jr. Executive Director
PHOTOS: SCOTT HEIN, LAURA KINDSVATER
Leadership & Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Felton, President
Doug Matthew, Treasurer
Giselle Jurkanin, Vice President & Secretary
Keith Alley
Steve Balling
John Gallagher
Liz Harvey Roberts
Claudia Hein
Scott Hein
Jerome Holland
Maga Kisriev
Shirley Langlois
Bob Marx
Amara Morrison
Phil O’Loane
Robert Phelps
Malcolm Sproul
Achilleus Tiu
MOONLIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN HOST COMMITTEE
Mark Belotz
Sandy Biagi
Bette Felton
Liz Harvey Roberts
Claudia Hein
Bob Marx
Lisa Steinbrecher
Kim Trupiano
Deborah Wechsler
STAFF
Ted Clement, Executive Director
Seth Adams, Land Conservation Director
Sean Burke, Land Programs Director
Karen Ferriere, Development Director
Monica Oei, Finance & Administration Director
Steven dePaschalis, Juan Pablo Galván Martínez, Shannon Grover, Dana Halpin, Brit Hutchinson, Samantha Kading, Morvarid Keymanesh, Laura Kindsvater, Queenie Li, Katie Lopez, Roxana Lucero, Mary Nagle, Kendra Smith, Haley Sutton, Cecilia Zefeldt
Intern
Emily Sherwood
PHOTO: STEPHEN JOSEPH
Welcome
Tonight, we joyfully gather at this spectacular mountain site to celebrate this successfully protected land and to inspire a promising future for the irreplaceable natural landscape that surrounds us.
We hope you enjoy this evening filled with lively music, gourmet dining, and the company of friends. We also invite you to participate in tonight’s silent and live auctions and in the Fund-a-Need portion of the program.
Your auction purchases and generous donations tonight will contribute directly to the strength and success of Save Mount Diablo’s impactful conservation programs.
Thank you for being part of this memorable evening and for supporting Save Mount Diablo’s work to protect and connect Diablo’s natural lands for you, for wildlife, and for future generations to enjoy.
Our Mission
Save Mount Diablo’s mission is to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, and watersheds, and its sustaining Diablo Range, through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources.
PHOTO: STEPHEN JOSEPH
Why We Care
This
is our
home.
Preserving natural land forever means safeguarding our quality of life, including our air, water, and views. Thousands of open space acres on and around Mount Diablo are privately owned and still threatened by development. In this time of the climate crisis, we also need to make sure Mount Diablo remains connected to its 200-mile Diablo Range, of which only 28 percent has been protected. At risk are wildlife corridors, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities.
MY DREAM
“My dream is that the whole of Mount Diablo, including its foothills, will remain open space . . . that the visual and natural integrity will be sustained.”
Dr. Mary L. Bowerman, co-founder of Save Mount Diablo
PHOTO: STEPHEN JOSEPH
MOONLIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Fund-a-Need Tonight
By participating in the Fund-a-Need portion of Moonlight on the Mountain, you’ll support the core programs and activities of Save Mount Diablo. You will help us be nimble and competitive when land becomes available for purchase. You will give us strength to advocate on behalf of our region’s wild lands. You will help us meet the stewardship needs of the more than 2,700 acres of land in our care. And you will help us educate, inspire, and expand our supportive community. Thank you!
PHOTO: SCOTT HEIN
PRESERVE
Our strategic land acquisitions help secure wildlife corridors, connect recreational trails, and protect sensitive lands, for the long-term benefit of people and nature.
RESTORE
Our stewardship work on more than 2,700 acres not only benefits native plants, watershed, and local wildlife, it also enriches our surrounding communities.
DEFEND
By educating neighbors, and promoting sustainable development, our land use advocacy work protects community health and the scenic beauty of the Diablo region.
EDUCATE
By providing inspirational, outdoor educational opportunities for people of all ages, our work helps strengthen our essential human connection to the natural world.
ENJOY
Together, we can expand and inspire a strong conservation community that will protect and care for Mount Diablo and its sustaining Diablo Range into the future.
PHOTOS: SCOTT HEIN, EMILY SHERWOOD
Live Auction Items
Live Auction Items
INDEPENDENCE LAKE: TWO NIGHTS + SIERRA VALLEY PRESERVE TOUR
Experience two exquisite Sierra Nevada nature preserves in just one trip.
You’ll stay at The Nature Conservancy’s lakeside cabin at Independence Lake, a jewel of the Sierra. This pristine alpine body of water is located just 20 miles from Truckee. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy all the lake has to offer, from hiking and fishing to kayaking and bird watching. The cabin can accommodate one or two families comfortably with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a great room, and a large outdoor deck.
Your experience also includes a tour of the Sierra Valley Preserve, located just 35 miles from Independence Lake. The Sierra Valley Preserve is an ecologically rich 2,575-acre preserve protected for its unique wetland habitats and Feather River headwaters. The preserve hosts prolific raptor populations and spring migratory and breeding birds, making it a critical stop on the Pacific Flyway. *To be scheduled for a mutually agreed-upon date, not later than August 2026.
Donated by The Nature Conservancy
PHOTOS: SCOTT HEIN, SIMON WILLIAMS, COURTESY
ONE-WEEK STAY ON MONTEREY BAY
LA SELVA BEACHFRONT HOME
Enjoy a one-week stay at a beachfront, tri-level townhome with breathtaking ocean views and direct access to Manresa State Beach—a peaceful, uncrowded stretch of sand on the Monterey Bay. This beautiful coastal retreat has three bedrooms (one king bed / two queen beds / one Murphy bed), three full baths, and expansive beach and ocean views.
Situated just 15 minutes south of Santa Cruz, Manresa State Beach is one of the few beaches in northern California where you can walk for miles in either direction, have fires on the beach, and enjoy a private coastal setting that is still close to popular activities. Amenities include a full kitchen, full laundry, two fireplaces, a deck with 27” BBQ, and a supply of popular beach games and gear. Maximum occupancy is eight adults. Please, no smoking and no pets. *To be scheduled for a mutually agreed upon date, not later than August 2026.
Donated by Mike and Nancy Mooney
Live Auction Items
Live Auction Items
ONE-WEEK STAY AT THE TRAPP FAMILY LODGE
Enjoy a classic New England summer holiday during this one-week stay at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. This spacious private villa has two richly appointed primary suites with king beds, one guest room with two queen/double beds, and 3.5 deluxe baths. Its generous accommodations, for up to eight guests, include a magnificent great room with wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, handcrafted dining area, and roomy screened-in porch. The resort also offers a variety of options for on-site dining and activities, such as trails for hiking and mountain biking, clay tennis courts, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, massage sanctuary, fitness center, and summer concerts. Please, no smoking and no pets. *Available August 14–21, 2026 or August 21–28, 2026. Confirm booking date by September 10, 2025.
Donated by Sandra and Larry Kessenick
PRIVATE ROCK CONCERT BY OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY
Take your next celebration to a new level of fun with live music by Other People's Money. Voted one of the Best Bands in the East Bay in 2024 AND 2025 by the readers of Diablo Magazine, Other People's Money (OPM) is way beyond an ordinary cover band, OPM specializes in delivering a real rock concert-level performance. OPM plays festivals, night clubs, and exclusive private events across the western US. These versatile musicians deliver a high energy 120+ minute show with all your favorites from Billy Idol, Bad Company, Jet, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, U2, and everything in between. Get ready to party with this unique experience! *Event location must be within a 25-mile radius of 94526 (negotiable). Event date must be on a mutually agreed-upon date by August 2026. Total event time duration must not exceed eight hours, and total performance time must not exceed three hours.
Donated by Other People's Money
PHOTOS: SCOTT HEIN, COURTESY OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY
Live Auction Items
GOURMET DINNER PARTY ON MOUNT DIABLO SUMMIT
BY POSTINO RESTAURANT
Enjoy a gourmet dining experience, exclusive park access, and dramatic 360-degree vistas at the summit of Mount Diablo. Your party of up to 10 people will be treated to an elegant multi-course dinner hosted by Save Mount Diablo. Dinner will be prepared on-site by the acclaimed Postino Restaurant of Lafayette.
*To be scheduled on a weekday between May and September 2026.
Donated by Postino Restaurant and Save Mount Diablo
PHOTOS: SCOTT HEIN, LILI GIRODIE
PRIVATE DINNER PARTY AT SKY TERRACE VINEYARDS
You’re the host at an intimate party for 10 at this spectacular familyowned and -operated winery in Danville, set against the stunning backdrop of Mount Diablo. Dinner will be prepared on-site and accompanied by award-winning Sky Terrace wines. *To be scheduled for a mutually agreed-upon date, not later than August 2026.
Donated by Bette & Jim Felton and Joyce & John Klassen
Band and Cake Auctions
Cake Auction and Raffle
CAKE
Delight your guests with a decadent layer cake, prepared specially by the Old Towne Danville Bakery. This beloved downtown institution, now owned by Karen Cordeiro, along with her husband and two daughters, has been providing elegant wedding cakes and delicious pastries to the Danville community since 1952. Still a local favorite for sweets and celebrations, Danville Old Towne Bakery was recognized in Diablo Magazine’s Best of the East Bay 2025 as Best Wedding Cake. This cake is the perfect way to sweeten your experience at tonight’s memorable event. Don’t let this festive opportunity escape!
Donated by Old Towne Danville Bakery
TEN-PASSENGER MERCEDES LIMOUSINE
Set the stage for your next special occasion with luxury transportation provided by Black Tie Transportation! A luxury ten-passenger Mercedes Sprinter limousine will transport you and your guests in comfort and style to the destination you choose. Are you ready to tour wine country or enjoy a beautiful trip to the city with close friends for a special day? With this generous prize from Black Tie Transportation, you'll enjoy the ride and create unforgettable memories! *$2500 value includes up to six hours of transportation. Event to be scheduled for a mutually agreed-upon date, subject to vehicle and chauffeur availability, not later than August 2026.
Donated by Black Tie Transportation
Thank you to our Moonlight on the Mountain Sponsors
Jeanne Thomas
Charla Gabert & David Frane
MOUNT OLYMPIA
PHOTO: SCOTT HEIN
Moonlight on the Mountain Sponsors
SPONSORS
TWIN PEAKS SPONSORS
WINE SPONSOR
EAGLE PEAK
BEER SPONSORS
PHOTO: SCOTT HEIN
BLANKET SPONSOR RECYCLING SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSORS
IN-KIND SPONSORS
PARTNERS
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
Thank You to Our Auction Donors
Amphora Nueva —
Lafayette
Aozora — Danville
Mark H. Armstrong
Burt Bassler
Beacon Grand Hotel
Joseph Belli
Mark & Silvia Belotz
Black Tie Transportation
Blackhawk Museum
Blossom & Root Kitchen
Reuben Borg
Bradford World Renown
Portraiture
Brenden Theatres
Sean Burke
Corda Solar
Jesse Cortes Photography
Creative Images by Jessica
Crow Canyon
Country Club
Crumbs
Danville Chocolates
Danville Cigar
Diablo Rock Gym —
Touchstone Climbing
DONHAO
Esin Restaurant & Bar
Jim & Bette Felton
First Mile Cycle Works
Charlotte French
Forbes Mill Steakhouse
John Gallagher
Kathy Gleason
Janet Gray
Gold Bar Distillery
Hafner Vineyard
HALL Wines of Napa
Headlands Brewing Company
Scott & Claudia Hein
Hiller Aviation Museum
Stephen Joseph
Kaia's Island Kitchen & Tiki Bar
Sandra & Larry Kessenick
Stella Kim
Kinder’s
Ellen Kindsvater
Deborah Koonce
Paul Kratter
Chris Kutzscher
Laura Sequel Interiors
Ken Lavin
Lindsey Wildlife Museum
Livermore Wine Trolley
Locanda Ravello
Hal Landvoigt
Lunardi’s
Peter McNeill
Melo’s Pizza and Pasta
Joe Mielke
Michael Mina
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
Mike & Nancy Mooney
Mike & Mindy Murphy
Mount Diablo Bird Alliance
Mount Diablo Brewing
Laura Nakamura
Nancy Niemeyer
Niles Canyon Railway
Shirley Nootbaar
Norm’s Place
Sue & Steve Ohanian
Old Towne Danville
Bakery & Café
Pangloss Cellars
Kit Perry
Pete's Brass Rail
Piatti Ristorante & Bar
Postino Restaurant
Primo’s Pizzeria & Pub
Princess Monterey
Whale Watching
Repris Wines
Deborah Rockey
Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Rosie the Riveter Trust
Rossmoor Golf Course
Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery
Ruth Beeve
Safeway
San Ramon Valley Fire
Protection District
Kristen Sanders & Mathew Zefeldt
Scott's Wine Taste / Boisset Collection
Sharp Bicycles
Sideboard
Kendra Smith
Scott Sornberger & Cynthia Selmi
Sports Basement
Malcolm Sproul
John Swearingen
Tahoe Donner Downhill
Ski Resort
The Golf Mart
The Growler
The Nature Conservancy
Tides Seafood Restaurant — Danville
Trader Joe's — Danville
Total Wine & More
Jean Vieth & Jan Diepersloot
Jack Eamon Walsh
The Walt Disney Family Museum
WALT Wines
Zachary’s Chicago Pizza —
Pleasant Hill
Zaya Thai Pantry
This list reflects donations received as of August 20, 2025. •
Raffle Rules
SAVE MOUNT DIABLO (SMD), a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is conducting this raffle to raise funds for ongoing charitable purposes. By purchasing a raffle ticket, the purchaser agrees to be bound by the rules.
The prize drawing to benefit Save Mount Diablo will be held at the Moonlight on the Mountain event on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Raffle tickets will be sold to guests at the Moonlight on the Mountain gala. The prizewinner must be present to win. The prizewinner will be notified at the event.
No more than 150 raffle tickets will be sold. The chances of winning are based on that number. If fewer raffle tickets are sold, your chances of winning the prize improve. The IRS has taken the position that amounts paid for chances in raffles, lotteries, or similar drawings for valuable prizes are not gifts, and consequently do not qualify as deductible charitable contributions.
By entering this raffle, entrants accept and agree (1) to be bound by all the rules, limitations, and restrictions set forth here and (2) that their names and/or likenesses may be disclosed to and used by SMD for publicity purposes and announced on SMD’s website. Other rules may apply. Please contact SMD if you have questions. SMD’s interpretation and application of the rules and regulations shall be final.
By entering this raffle, each participant releases SMD, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability for injuries, losses, or damages of any kind caused by participating in the raffle or winning any prize or resulting from acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize, and each winner agrees to indemnify and hold SMD harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims, and actions of any kind rising in connection with or as a result of participating in the raffle or the winner’s acceptance or use of any prize.
The price is $100 for one raffle ticket. An individual can purchase as many raffle tickets as he or she may wish, subject to availability. Only one method of payment, one name, and one mailing address are permitted per entry. Only one eligible person may be entered in the raffle per ticket sold. If the name of more than one person is submitted with a raffle ticket purchase, and that ticket is selected as a winning ticket, then the person named first will be deemed the holder of record of that ticket and declared the winner. Division of prize by a group purchasing a ticket in common shall be to the sole responsibility of the person named as the holder of record of that ticket, should that raffle ticket be selected as a winner.
In order to collect his or her prize, the raffle ticket winner may be required to sign and deliver to SMD: (a) a sworn affidavit of eligibility in accordance with these rules and
applicable law, including without limitation that he or she is at least 18 years old; (b) such written information as is required by any applicable tax, including without limitation his or her Social Security Number; and (c) proof of identity in forms satisfactory to SMD showing that the person claiming the prize is the same person who is named on the winning raffle ticket. Prize-winner may be required to submit a W-2G, Form 5754, or similar tax form (provided by SMD) for tax-withholding purposes.
Anyone 18 years of age or older and a U.S. resident physically residing in the United States and District of Columbia may enter. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The raffle is void where prohibited or restricted by law. An affidavit of eligibility may be required from prizewinner.
The raffle prize will consist of a rental of an eight-passenger limobus and driver, for a trip with duration no longer than six hours. Additional time may be available, for an added fee, only by pre-arrangement with Black Tie offices. Please call Monday through Sunday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM to make a reservation. Depending on your Bay Area pickup location, additional fees may apply. Chauffeur gratuity not included. Must be scheduled subject to availability with prize provider, Black Tie Transportation.
Auction Rules
ALL ITEMS ARE
SOLD “as is” without representation of warranty. Save Mount Diablo is not responsible for the correct description or the authenticity of any item or service. Values quoted are estimates only and are not warranted by Save Mount Diablo. Certain item(s) or experience(s) may pose a risk of personal injury. Purchaser acknowledges this risk and assumes responsibility for all risk associated with item(s) or experience(s). Purchaser (and on behalf of heirs, successors, and assignees) releases Save Mount Diablo for any and all liability with respect to item(s) or experience(s) procured.
Unless otherwise specified, all auction items and services must be used within one year of the date of the auction, unless stated otherwise herein for a shorter period of time, or as arranged with the service provider for an extension of time. All items purchased are to be used as specified unless other arrangements are made with the donor. In the event a donor is unable to deliver the item to the purchaser, donor shall not be liable for more than the winning bid amount to the purchaser. Each donor reserves the right to make reasonable substitutions to an item or services when necessary. The auctioneer will settle any disputes.
SILENT AUCTION PROCEDURES
All items in the silent auction have a bidding sheet adjacent to the item. Bids are noted
on the bidding sheets. To bid, write your bid number and the amount of your bid—legibly—on the next available line of the bid sheet. In the event of an unclear or ambiguous high bid, the event staff shall make the final determination and may accept a lower bid than the unclear or ambiguous bid. No bids will be accepted after the close of the silent auction table. In the event of a dispute, or if two or more are still bidding at the time of closing, the auctioneer will arrange an oral auction for the item in question. The highest bid at the closing of the table wins the item. Good sportsmanship and manners prevail.
LIVE AUCTION PROCEDURES
To enter a bid, raise your paddle high in the air facing the auctioneer. Bidders should remain seated. Minimum bids (reserves) may be required for the item to be sold. In the live auction, the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the purchaser. The auctioneer will acknowledge bids at their sole discretion. If you are the highest bidder, you must identify yourself using your bid number. If a donor duplicates an item, bidding will start at the previous sale price. For group purchases, one bidder must represent the group. At checkout, you must pay for the item yourself or bring the payment of all members of the group. Once the auctioneer determines a winning bid, title to the item passes to that
bidder, who then assumes all responsibility for the item, and is liable for the full purchase price of the item. Proxy bidding may be allowed during the live auction.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
Payment for silent and live auction items may be made at the auction checkout with cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. No debit cards. Any bidder failing to arrange payment by 10:30 PM may, at the discretion of Save Mount Diablo, forfeit the right to that item. The item will then be offered to the next highest bidder. After payment and upon receiving a receipt, please proceed to the auction pickup area to pick up your items. The receipt must be shown to the auction runners, who will gather your items and give them to you.
All auction items must be removed from the premises by 10:30 PM. If you are unable to transport your item this evening, please make arrangements with event staff to pick up from Save Mount Diablo’s office at 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 190, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 the week of September 8, 2025, between 9 AM and 3 PM Monday through Friday. Save Mount Diablo is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
PHOTO: SCOTT HEIN
PHOTO: SCOTT HEIN