Palo Vol. XLII, Number 48 Q September 3, 2021 Alto Getreu trial: Evidence suggests struggle before 1974 killing Page 5 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Fall Class Guide Page 29 Read up-to-the-minute news on PaloAltoOnline.com QUpfront Downtown bears brunt of economic recession Page 5 QUpfront Youths hit the streets to boost vaccinations Page 8 QA&E Musical lampoons tech’s embrace of Burning Man Page 27 LA monthly i special v section i n of news g Wel& information for seniors l BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY Off the clock, these Avenidas honorees laid the groundwork for a better community 33 ach of this year’s nine Avenidas Life- Gay and Bill Krause, Alma and Jim Phillips, Tickets for this public event are $75 and gifts times of Achievement honorees has Stephen Player and Eliane and Armand Neuke- may also be made in honor of one or more of the gone beyond the call of duty year in and rmans have distinguished themselves as deeply honorees, with proceeds benefiting Avenidas’ Eyear out for decades to create positive changes committed to making their communities a bet- programs for older adults throughout the area. in the community by donating countless hours ter place. Ticket holders may choose to have a box of sa- of hands-on service to local organizations and To honor them, the senior-serving nonprofit vory snacks, dessert and a bottle of wine deliv- programs aimed at improving education, health Avenidas and the Palo Alto Weekly will host a ered to their home before the event. There also care, the environment and services for seniors, virtual celebration on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 3 will be live guitar music, the chance to meet among other areas. to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. and welcome new Avenidas President and CEO From launching an innovation center aimed “While the date and venue may have changed Amy Yotopoulos and the opportunity to learn at providing cutting-edge resources for teach- a few times due to COVID, the spirit of coming about the honorees’ contributions, as presented ers and students, to raising millions of dollars together and celebrating will carry on as we will by Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. for cancer research, to initiating programs to all raise a glass to toast this outstanding group To reserve a Zoom link for this festive online foster diversity and social justice in and out of of achievers,” said Kari Martell, Avenidas VP party, visit avenidas.org by Sept. 17. For more the workplace, Fran Codispoti, Helen Gifford, of Marketing and Communications. information, call 650-289-5445. LIFETIMES OF ACHIEVEMENT FRAN CODISPOTI She’s raised millions of dollars as an advocate for people young and old By David Goll os Altos Hills philanthro- plans events. Rao is on the inter- pist Fran Codispoti isn’t national organization’s board of L one to shy away from life’s directors. unexpected challenges. After re- covering from Hodgkin’s lym- phoma, she decided to turn her ‘Feminism has been attention away from a lucrative career in tech to focus exclusive- a continuous thread ly on improving the well-being of throughout my life.’ people young and old who might be experiencing hardships. — Fran Codispoti Palo Alto’s Amy Rao, who met Codispoti seven years ago while Human Rights Watch is just doing advocacy work, has a suc- one of many nonprofit and chari- cinct description of her relation- table organizations where Codis- Gauthier Magali ship with her. poti has worked tirelessly for over “I tell everyone I want to be many decades. Fran when I grow up,” Rao said Among Codispoti’s many tal- with a chuckle. “She has incred- ents are her formidable fundrais- A survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Fran Codispoti first got involved with the Under One Umbrella ible energy and passion when she ing abilities, often the least popu- annual fundraising event in 2011. Over the years, she has raised more than $1 million annually on is working for a cause.” lar duty in charitable or political behalf of the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center. Rao and Codispoti met through campaign work. their activism in the Democratic “She has no problem asking Party and membership in the people to open up their wallets involved with Under One Um- annually, and Kidman has been Codispoti credits her political Silicon Valley chapter of Human and their hearts for a good cause,” brella in 2011 — and helped joined on stage by her country- awareness, dogged determination Rights Watch, a New York-based Rao said. raise $800,000 for the Center by singer husband, Keith Urban; by and large reservoir of empathy for non-governmental organiza- Among her most notable fun- snagging none other than famed fellow husband-and-wife country others to her parents. tion that conducts research into draising accomplishments is the actress Nicole Kidman as the music luminaries Garth Brooks “I was raised in a family that and advocacy for human rights annual Under One Umbrella featured entertainment. Over the and Trisha Yearwood; and by greatly valued a strong work eth- causes worldwide. Codispoti is a event on behalf of the Stanford years since, the event, now held another famous married duo — ic,” she said. member of the chapter’s executive Women’s Cancer Center. A sur- at Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall, movie-industry actors and royalty committee that targets causes and vivor herself, Codispoti first got has raised more than $1 million Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. (continued on page 24) www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 3, 2021 • Page 21 Living Well 33 BETSY GIFFORD She’s spent hundreds of hours lending a hand to nonprofits By Sue Dremann etsy Gifford is finally responsibility, and that’s how she getting used to the idea was raised, she said. B of being honored with an Her mother and father were ac- Avenidas Lifetimes of Achieve- tive in their community in Aurora, ment Award. She’s not keen on Illinois; son Peter is past president the spotlight. of the Palo Alto Community Fund “I like to do things quietly in and has been involved with the the background. I don’t want any East Palo Alto Charter School; bugles,” she said on a sunny Au- gust afternoon. Gauthier Magali But Gifford’s — and her fam- ily’s — quiet imprint is on many ‘There’s nothing things benefiting the Palo Alto, better than to see East Palo Alto and Stanford communities: Stanford athletics the results of quietly From being a Palo Alto Community Fund director emerita to being a 30-year member of the Dirty and arts programs; the YMCA contributing to the Knees Brigade at Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, Betsy Gifford isn’t shy about one thing: rolling up her in East Palo Alto; the Children’s sleeves. With privilege comes responsibility, and that’s how she was raised, she said. Hospital at Stanford; the Music benefit of all. It fills Guild at Stanford University; your heart.’ of the university. After returning Settling into her new environ- social sciences degree. Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid — Betsy Gifford to his hometown, he recruited ment was challenging. The only “It was my hook to learn about Peninsula; a local PTA, as well as many students for Stanford’s ad- people she knew were her hus- the community,” she said. numerous others. missions office, she said. band and a high school classmate. She first volunteered as a “pink From being a Palo Alto Com- son Jonathan volunteers with He also encouraged his own son, “I had to forge my own way,” lady” at Stanford Hospital in pa- munity Fund director emerita to Canopy and Gamble Garden. John, and John’s friend, Jonathan she said. In the uncharted terri- tient services. Then she was invit- being a 30-year member of the “It’s a family ethic — that’s Berry Gifford, to attend Stanford. tory of Palo Alto, she set out to ed to join the Palo Alto Auxiliary “Dirty Knees Brigade” at Eliza- all,” she said. Jonathan Gifford became an ar- find out “who she was” and how at Allied Arts, which benefited beth F. Gamble Garden, tending Her father, Karl Grube, who chitect and later worked for Birge to be creative in her new environ- the Children’s Hospital at Stan- the flower beds, Gifford isn’t shy graduated from Stanford Univer- Clark’s firm. Betsy eventually mar- ment, she said. ford. After their two sons were about one thing: rolling up her sity with a degree in aeronautical ried him, and the couple settled in Gifford graduated from the sleeves. With privilege comes engineering, was a big supporter Palo Alto in 1966. University of Arizona with a (continued on page 25) 33 BILL AND GAY KRAUSE They’ve spent decades working to improve local education By Chris Kenrick t felt like an enormous risk to her direction since its founding in Bill and Gay Krause back in 2000, the center has offered profes- I1981. sional training to more than 23,000 Gauthier Magali Bill quit his good management educators in the effective use of job at Hewlett-Packard — where classroom technology and more his personal mentor was the leg- engaging, high-quality instruction endary co-founder Bill Hewlett — in math and related subjects. to join an uncertain but interesting Bill and Gay Krause’s shared passion for education led them to create the Krause Center for startup. Innovation at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills in 2000. Since its opening, the center has provided “There were months when there professional training to more than 23,000 educators in the effective use of classroom technology and were no paychecks,” recalled Gay ‘Education, from our more engaging, high-quality instruction in math and related subjects.