By Rainforest Action Network’s annual flagship gala REVEL is known to be an absolute riot. Environmental glitterati, non-profit superstars, and hardcore activists get all gussied up and rock out to benefit RAN’s work around the world. And this year’s REVEL—set for the third year amidst the dramatic and elegant California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park—sold out before the evening began.
Cannot wait for @RAN #REVEL2013 party tonight at @calacademy. Let’s save the rainforests from palm oil for starters! http://t.co/BHqnDpjNyG
— Nadine Weil (@nadineweil) October 17, 2013
The Africa Hall at Cal Academy was laid out in beautiful bright orange and gold Asian fabrics. The scene was set for the donor dinner and auction where raucous old school hellraisers from Randy “Hurricane” Hayes to Ginger Cassady to Mike Brune to Scott Parkin mixed with (slightly) more civilized Bay Area eco luminaries like Nadine Weil, Michael Kieschnick and Liza Pike.
The rockstar MC of the night—RAN alum and NARAL President Ilyse Hogue—brilliantly wove together the procession of champion keynote speakers including sustainable food experts Anna and Frances Moore Lappé, RAN’s new executive director Lindsey Allen, and board chair Andre Carothers with special surprise appearances on stage by Modulus Guitars CEO Michael Klein, RAN co-founder Randy Hayes, and Code Pink co-founder Jodie Evans.
TWO standing ovations for new executive director @lrallen at #revel2013 — she’s a damn good storyteller & a damn good leader. We’re lucky. — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
“I need you to be my fire, my moral compass & my backbone when I go to the negotiating table”—@lrallen to the @ran network at #revel2013 — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
“Tonight I feel heartened that we might be much closer to the change we want to see in the world than this moment.”—@annalappe #revel2013 — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
“To me the core message of @RAN is not ‘you should, you should,’ it’s ‘we can, we can.’ —@fmlappe at #revel2013 — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
“it is not possible to know what is possible, so we are free to go for it.” @fmlappe @RAN #REVEL2013 — Jodie Evans (@MsJodieEvans) October 17, 2013
REVEL 2013 featured a stunning concert by Cuban revolutionary singer/songwriter Carlos Varela and his special guest, folk legend Jackson Browne. The two have played together for years and their chemistry and love for each other was crystal clear. What an honor to see these two legends in such an intimate setting!
“There can be freedom only when nobody owns it.”—Carlos Varela with Jackson Browne @calacademy #revel2013 pic.twitter.com/Y8pjPYD8jn — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
“You don’t know why it’s such a far cry from a world this world could be…”Jackson Browne at #revel2013 pic.twitter.com/u70IRwZfuH — RAN (@RAN) October 17, 2013
The gang’s all here. #Revel2013 http://t.co/TqtWAjrbTS
— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) October 17, 2013
The REVEL photobooth is always a hotspot for shenanigans…neither the majority of revelers nor RAN’s own development director Jeri Howland were immune to the silliness.
The night wrapped up in an explosion of energy, great beats and lyrics that spoke directly to our movement with Oakland’s own Earth Amplified. Props to the revelers that burnt the midnight oil on the dancefloor (including Anna Hawken, Duane Martinez, Allan Badiner, and Lifted Spirits‘ herbal mixologist Mateo Sluder), as they had the extraordinary opportunity to see these brilliant MC’s rock the Cal Academy stage.
Once again, REVEL brought us all together in a celebration that both stoked the fires of our hearts as well as our capacity to do what must be done for forests, communities and climate on this rapidly changing planet we call Earth.
Great friends whom make you want to weep with smiles after so many years…. @ran pic.twitter.com/38qYWkwlLK
— Emily Miggins (@emilymiggins) October 17, 2013
Very special thanks to the women behind it all at Organic Events. We couldn’t have done it without you!