California College of the Arts saw countless events and happenings during 2009, yet one event in particular stands out for its remarkable success: An Evening with David Sedaris. CCA's benefit for scholarships, which attracted more than 2,000 attendees to the Marin Center Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium on Thursday, October 29, raised more than $150,000 for students in need—a whopping 50 percent above the goal!

Just how did the college persuade Mr. Sedaris, author of the best-selling books Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice and the collections of personal essays Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, whose sardonic wit and incisive social critiques have made him one of today’s preeminent humor writers, to participate in the robust fundraiser? Well, Mr. Sedaris and CCA President Stephen Beal are friends, which helped pave the way for the preliminary planning.

“We are thrilled that David came to the Bay Area to help us raise funds for student scholarships,” said Beal. “I have known him for many years, and he is not only one of the funniest and smartest writers working today, but also a former art school student. Proceeds from this event are already providing much-needed financial aid to support talented young artists, architects, designers and writers who are earning their degrees at CCA.”

Friendship aside, however, Mr. Sedaris’s kindness of spirit must also be acknowledged; he donated his time for the benefit, which included reading all-new material at the sold-out $35-per-person reading (sponsored by Bay Area's Book Passage, attending an exclusive $250-per-ticket prereading donors’ cocktail party, and generously signing books before and after the event in the lobby. And fans couldn’t have been happier; no one who wanted an autographed souvenir left disappointed.

The stellar outcome of An Evening with David Sedaris was the result of a culmination of months of preparation and dedicated efforts that involved such noteworthy key players as CCA trustees Kay Kimpton Walker (event chair), Tecoah Bruce, Judy Timken, Noel Perry, and Nancy Forster (responsible for selling multiple $5,000 and $10,000 sponsorships); the collaborative efforts of CCA’s Advancement, Communications, and Student Affairs offices; and the support from Stephen Barclay, Mr. Sedaris’s representative.

Also of note, award-winning Graphic Design associate professor Bob Aufuldish designed the event’s collateral pieces, including the poster, which Mr. Sedaris described as, “The most beautiful poster I’ve seen for any one of my events.”

The donors’ cocktail reception was itself as eclectic as any of Mr. Sedaris’s essays, complete with upside-down Christmas trees affixed to the ceiling of a high-end canopied lounge. Other recognizable tributes to the acclaimed writer included two unique featured cocktails (courtesy of Grey Goose Vodka), fittingly called “Holidays on Ice” and “Barrel Fever.” The wine was generously donated by Muscardini Cellars, thanks to alumnus and former alumni council president Michael Muscardini (BFA Printmaking ’72).

During the evening's program Mr. Sedaris shared his larger-than-life anecdotes delivered in his customary wry style. He introduced new material from a forthcoming book (slated for release this year). The selections ranged from his trademark observations of familial life to hilarious and insightful stories about how we as human beings fail to fully understand our relationship to other life forms such as sea and bird life. Mr. Sedaris's unique talent is his ability to make us laugh at ourselves as well as at the behavior of others.

An Evening with David Sedaris put the fun back in fundraiser, while simultaneously benefiting current and future CCA students with added scholarship funding. See Scholarships to learn more about CCA's financial aid opportunities. Also, the college now offers a convenient way to donate online, where you can designate your tax-deductible donation be used for student scholarships. Be sure to review the donor benefits, too!