Bloomingdale's Grand Opening Raises $210,000 for UCSF Children's Hospital

The Grand Opening Gala for the new Bloomingdale's at the Westfield San Francisco Centre on Tuesday evening, a benefit for UCSF Children's Hospital, garnered more than $210,000 in donations. Funds were raised through ticket sales and a percentage of proceeds from sales of merchandise during the event, which will help UCSF Children's Hospital extend the many programs that help children suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. (See slideshow) Barbara and Gerson Bakar and Frances Bowes served as honorary chairs for the event, which featured performances by Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Nanci and Gary Fredkin, Pam Glogau and Richard Glogau, MD, Jan and Peter Harris, Leigh and Bill Matthes, Cathy and Mike Podell, and Beatie Lazard Seidenberg served as co-chairs of the extravaganza. Attendees were able to preview the 357,000-square-foot store at 5th and Market streets --the first new West Coast store constructed from the ground up by Bloomingdale's, and second in size only to its original 1-million-square-foot store at Lexington Avenue and 59th Street in midtown Manhattan.

Hundreds of people attended the Sept. 26 opening of the Bloomingdale's store to benefit UCSF Children's Hospital.

The new Westfield San Francisco Centre integrates a piece of retail history - the ornate dome of the former Emporium department store building. Originally built in 1904 and destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, the Emporium was later rebuilt, retaining its trademark dome. The dome now serves as the centerpiece of the new Westfield San Francisco Centre. The store opens to the general public today, Sept. 28. Photos/Susan Merrell Links: UCSF Children's Hospital Bloomingdales