A new East Bay animal rescue is launching its first major fundraiser in January, and you’ll probably recognize the founder’s name. Former Oakland Athletics manager Tony La Russa and his family have started La Russa Rescue Champions, partnering with some high-profile celebrities for a Jan. 25 gala at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts.
La Russa and his wife, Elaine, have been advocating for animals since starting the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in 1991. A disagreement with that group’s management led to his severing ties with ARF in 2023, after which the nonprofit rebranded itself as Joybound People & Pets. Unlike ARF, the La Russa family’s new endeavor will act as a support system for existing animal rescue organizations.
“With this new group, we’re going to fund grassroots and different organizations, because ARF was just a program — we didn’t do any grants,” says La Russa.
The list of musicians, sports figures and other celebrities planned to attend the gala is impressive. Billy Bob Thornton, Dave Stewart and Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows have all committed. Thornton is set to perform with his rock band, The Boxmasters, which he founded in 2007 with Grammy Award-winning recording engineer J.D. Andrew.
The event is to also feature performances by Doobie Brothers saxophonist Marc Russo and Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo’s All-Star Band and Comedy Central’s Sarah Tiana. Several military guests have also been invited to the event, and La Russa plans to host an A’s Hall of Fame Panel with a tribute to Rickey Henderson by former Athletics players Jose Canseco, Dennis Eckersley and Dave Stewart.
The big surprise of the evening is the payoff for a bet Stewart made with La Russa several years ago at spring training.
“I told him at the time, ‘I’m going to hold you to it,’ ” says La Russa. “The All Star Band is going to start, and then Stewart comes out, and he’s going to be doing two Chris Stapleton songs. He really can sing.”
You can find more information and purchase tickets online at lesherartscenter.org or larussarescuechampions.org.
Glowfari show: The Oakland Zoo’s popular Glowfari holiday light show is on track to raise a big portion of the nonprofit zoo’s 2026 operating revenue. The experience that features larger-than-life animal lanterns was sold out during much of the Christmas season and will close Jan. 25 after more than two-and-a-half months.
This year’s Glowfari includes several new attractions and hundreds of hand-painted, illuminated lanterns shaped like animals, plants and even some of Oakland’s landmarks. A giant moving crab greets guests at the top of the gondola, along with colorful reefs of fish.
Adult guests can buy boozy hot chocolates and toddies to keep them warm while they stroll, and the zoo’s concession stands and rides are open throughout the evenings. Tickets are available online at oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/glowfari.
Ginny Prior can be reached at ginnyprior@hotmail.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.
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