Nearly 500 guests were awestruck at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula's 50th Anniversary Golden Gala last Saturday. As they arrived to the tented oasis on Sun Microsystems' campus in Menlo Park, guests were welcomed and inspired by children from the Club. Inside, attendees including Duncan and Shirley Matteson, Tad and Diane Taube, Arnold and Barbara Silverman, Doug and Quin Whitman and Event Chair Melissa Badger mingled in the stylishly-decorated reception pavilion created by Classic Party Rentals and designed by Jeffery Adair from JFloral. As guests entered the main, clear-topped marquee, they were dazzled by the detailed décor which included large gold panels displaying archived images from throughout the Club's first fifty years. Panels included pictures of Margo Ritter, the Club's first woman Board Member and Past President, who was also in the crowd. At the beginning of the program, guests were welcomed by Merv Morris and Susan Ford Dorsey who served jointly as Honorary Committee co-chairs of the Club's 50th Anniversary year-long celebration. Actor and Boys & Girls Club alum Courtney B. Vance emceed the evening and acknowledged all those who have helped the Club and the kids to succeed over the years. Near the end, he introduced singer and American Idol Finalist Melinda Doolittle who performed a number of songs including one with the Club's youth choir. A toast led by Vance and Doolittle was followed by spectacular fireworks that had guests oohing and ahhing. When the sparks subsided, the music of Big City Review kicked in and guests danced the night away in grand style for a great cause. The event raised nearly $600,000 to support the Club's Teen Tracks and school-based programs.