The December 9 gala at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor brought together more than 220 guests united by a shared commitment to cultural philanthropy. The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), which comprises both the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum, hosted the seasonal fundraiser to benefit exhibition programming and educational initiatives.
As San Francisco’s largest public arts institution, FAMSF relies on private philanthropy to sustain its programming. The evening’s guest list featured a cross-section of the city’s cultural stewards, from longtime trustees to business leaders who direct philanthropic resources toward the arts.
A Gathering of Cultural Stewards
Gala co-chairs Jack Calhoun, Stanlee Gatti, Lorna Meyer Calas, Kathryn Lasater, Barbara A. Wolfe, and Brenda Wright welcomed guests personally. FAMSF Board President Lorna Meyer Calas provided leadership alongside Honorary Chair Diane Wilsey, who has long served as Chair Emerita for the organization.
J-P Conte attended alongside trustees and museum supporters, photographed with Nick Podell, Katie Traina, Claire Spaht, Darius Himes, Max Boyer Glynn, Carol Bonnie, Todd Traina, Leslie Podell, Allison Speer, and Bo Lasater. Board members in attendance included Carl Pascarella, Lynn Poole, Brenda Wright, Lisa Zanze, and Romana Bracco.
Family Offices and Arts Funding
J-P Conte leads family office Lupine Crest Capital, directing investments across healthcare, financial services, software, and industrial technology sectors. His presence at arts events underscores how family offices engage with communities beyond traditional investment activities. Conte built his career leading a San Francisco-based private equity firm before establishing Lupine Crest.
His educational philanthropy includes the Conte First Generation Fund, which supports students at 11 universities including his alma maters Colgate University and Harvard University. The fund honors his parents, Pierre and Isabel Conte, who emigrated from France and Cuba respectively to build new lives in the United States.
The Mission Behind the Evening
Proceeds from the December gala support FAMSF’s exhibition programs and educational outreach. The April 2025 Annual Gala raised $1.7 million—the highest total in museum history—and seasonal events like the December gathering supplement that fundraising.
FAMSF’s commitment to connecting Bay Area audiences with local and global art drives its programming decisions. The Legion of Honor’s ongoing centennial celebrations have featured exhibitions ranging from Wayne Thiebaud retrospectives to the current “Manet & Morisot” show, with a Yinka Shonibare exhibition planned as the culminating centennial presentation.
Click here to learn more about J-P Conte.
