Pari Livermore Biography

After suffering the loss of her son early in her life, Pari Livermore made a promise to God if she could survive, she would devote her life to serving others. In order to keep her pledge, she became an active volunteer for children’s cancer while continuing an exciting career with Trans World Airlines, which spanned 26 years. Initially serving as a flight attendant, flight attendant supervisor and finally a Director of Customer Services.

Pari took full advantage of TWA’s generous education imbursement program and would go to school during the week and work on the weekends. She often took educational leaves of absence. As a result, she received an undergraduate degree from New York University and a graduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. On one of her educational leaves, Pari also took time to create the Red and White Ball honoring the most eligible bachelors in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Since her teen years, Pari enjoyed matchmaking and giving her friends the gift of each other. Over a 20 year period, the Red & White Ball was a resounding success and Pari would have a chance to make dozens of matches in one evening. It was a matchmaker’s dream.

Pari has enjoyed raising funds through her matchmaking efforts for nonprofit organizations which has resulted in over 300 marriages.

Pari’s success won her a seat on the Board for The American Cancer Society. In 1988, thru her work on the board, she met her future husband, Putnam Livermore. They had on instant attraction to one another and after a few months, Pari told Put of her pledge to God to serve others. Put decided to help make her dreams come true and they were married in 1989. Working together, they began a quest which would have impressed Dale Carnegie.

On their Honeymoon, Pari and Put decided to develop a water project on the Livermore Ranch which still operates today. Pari helped Put with fundraising efforts and events for his environmental causes. Put helped Pari develop the Point of Light Celebration for the Top 25 Volunteers in San Francisco for such causes as the Boy and Girls Club and the Child Abuse Prevention Society, and others. Together they started The Mentor’s Lunch for Women Honoring Inspirational Women for the Vallejo Stairway Garden at the summit of Russian Hill and The Fall Fair honoring the most fascinating single women in San Francisco for such nonprofits as The Family Service Agency and The Family Caregiver Alliance, The California State Park Foundation and LITA.

Put encouraged Pari to pursue a 9 year television career hosting “Everybody’s Angels,” a cable television show about people who volunteered for nonprofit organizations. And Pari and Put celebrated the success of her book, “How to Marry a Fabulous Man” published by Meredith Books.

But they both agreed the most exhilarating experience they shared together was the Livermore Scholarship Program for the Minnie Cannon Elementary School in Middletown, California, and underserved community near the Livermore Ranch in the California Wine Country.

Pari was chosen as one of the 2017 Top 10 Contributors to Education for her work providing scholarships for students at the Minnie Cannon School.

In 2019, the University of California, Berkeley hosted a party in her honor for her work with the Cal Crew Scholarships, the Cal Alumni Association Scholarships and Pari has been given the honor of partnering with UC Berkeley on the Berkeley Minnie Cannon School Scholarship Program.

In 2019, Pari also received awards for her generosity from both the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Society at Cal and the Minnie Cannon Elementary School.

Pari Livermore began volunteering in her early twenties. Her commitment increased when she reached her 30s and created the Red & White Ball, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association given for single people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The success of the Red & White Ball events and Pari’s tireless efforts to produce them, won her a seat of the board of the American Cancer Society in 1988.

This led to an introduction to her future husband, Putman Livermore. During their friendship, Pari became inspired by the Livermore family’s devotion to public service. Put and his mother, Caroline Sealy Livermore were well known conservationists. Caroline Sealy Livermore was responsible for the founding of the Marin Art and Garden Center. Samuel P. Taylor State Park and the Richardson Bay Sanctuary. She has been credited for saving Angel Island. The top of the island is now named in her honor. Put was responsible for the formation of 11 California State Parks and was a founding member of the Trust for Public Land.

Over the years, one of Caroline’s and Put’s family foundations, The Sealy And Smith Foundation has contributed over $900 million to hospitals and medical education since its onset. The foundation donated 75 million in 2015 alone, and received the Santa Rita Award that same year. Although a much more modest amount, always motivated by the Livermore family, Pari has raised almost $5 million for California nonprofit organizations in the past 30 years.

According to a recent nonprofit audit by the California Attorney General’s Office, it was noted that Pari has a 30-year clear record of fundraising, and has received an extraordinary number of letters and awards for her nonprofit work. Additionally, Pari and her husband, Putnam, have contributed a considerable amount of their own funds to her charitable causes.

Pari Livermore has received 36 awards for her philanthropic work over the last 3 decades, including 3 commendations for her television show Everybody’s Angels, a cable show which featured nonprofit organizations.

Pari was recently selected as one of the Top10 Contributors to California Education for 2018.

The following is a complete list of Ms. Livermore’s awards, proclamations and commendations:

• 1986 Volunteer Appreciation Award American Heart Association
• 1986 Chairwomen’s Award for Outstanding Contribution American Heart Association
• 1987 Fundraising Award American Heart Association
• 1988 Notable Service to the Campaign to Conquer Cancer American Cancer Society
• 1988 Chairwoman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution American Cancer Society
• 1989 Significant Contribution to the American Cancer Society
• 1989 Volunteer Appreciation Award American Cancer Society
• 1989 Commendation Award California State Assembly
• 1991 Chairman’s Award for the Points of Light Child Abuse Prevention Society
• 1992 Proclamation from San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordon Breast Cancer Research
• 1994 Proclamation from San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordon Family Caregiver Alliance
• 1994 Outstanding Support Award Family Caregiver Alliance
• 1994 Certificate of Appreciation California State Board of Equalization
• 1994 Mother’s Day Award Family Service Agency
• 1995 Star Award Volunteer Appreciation Family Service Agency
• 1996 Proclamation from San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Child Abuse Prevention Society
• 1997 Declared February 14th Pari Livermore Day by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown
• 1997 Michael Tollman Humanitarian Award for “Everybody’s Angels” Television Show
• 1997 Love and Support Award Marc Benioff Sales Force.com Child Abuse Prevention
• 1997 Give a Hand Award Children’s Garden
• 1998 Outstanding Volunteer Service Boys & Girls Club
• 1999 W.A.V.E. Award of Excellence in Cable Television for Best Programming That Made a Difference in the 13 Western States
• 2000 Proclamation San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Children’s Garden
• 2000 Volunteer Appreciation Award California Governor Gray Davis Children’s Garden
• 2003 Love and Appreciation Plaque Vallejo Stairway Garden Crest Russian Hill Neighbors
• 2017 Top 10 Contributors to Education Minnie Cannon Elementary School and UC Berkeley
• 2017-18 5 Silver medals at the Delaware County Senior Games for 400 meter and 800 meter and for the long jump
• 2019 Ida Wheeler Award from UC Berkeley
• 2019 Support and Appreciation from the California High School Rodeo Association
• 2019 Generosity and Love of Education Award from the Minnie Cannon Elementary School

We are grateful for Pari’s support and overwhelming opportunities she has provided our students.
– Shelley Tan, Principal

I will always be grateful to Pari Livermore for her tremendous efforts and her vision. She has truly given a valuable gift to many students at Minnie Cannon, as well as the community of Middletown.
– Rei Kor Deaco, Music Teacher

Pari has been a very kind, honest and generous person that I have every had the pleasure of working with.
– Lisa Guerrero, Teacher

I consider myself blessed for having had the opportunity to be involved in Pari Livermore’s vision for the children of Middletown and I am a better person for knowing and assisting her in these endeavors. Her work has not only enabled those who have won scholarships to dream or plan for college or technical school but it will actually provide an opportunity for them to grow to their full potential.
– Donna Barnette, Pastor

I was greatly impressed by the Minnie Cannon School. Meeting the dedicated staff and enthusiastic students made me hopeful for their future. Thanks to you and your team they have musical instruments, school supplies, a new playground, landscaping and a scholarship program that is ongoing. I love how you have such a vision for how best to involve the children in their own success.
– Diana Luks, Educator

I have had many conversations with Pari about how she just wants these students to start thinking about college now. I talk to them about college but she makes it a reality for them.
– Michelle Mackey, 6th Grade Teacher, Minnie Cannon Elementary

This Scholarship Program has brought opportunities to our students that may have helped guide them to a path of higher education with the recent valley fires, I know for sure that two of the past winners lost their homes and all of their belongings. These kids still have their account. We appreciate the love and thought that is brought to our students.
– Brandy Fischer

Thanks to your commitment and tireless efforts, the Family Service Agency is reaching more and helping more of our community every day.
– Christine Zanello, Chairwoman

Because of your support the Family Service Agency/San Francisco will be able to expand our important services for senior in 1994.
– Deborah A. Lee, President

The American Cancer Society, the sole benefactor of this event will use the proceeds for educational programs providing information and referral services transportation to homes and hospitals as well as home care visits for the terminally ill.
– Dana V. Espino, Chairwoman

The American Cancer Society, San Francisco Unit has counted on the support of the Red and White Ball, so we can continue our fight against a disease that touches three out of four families. To you, and to all the Red and White Ball members, our heart felt appreciation.
– David Coulter, Chairman of the Board, 1989

The fashionable, savvy, Red and White Ball continues to the beauty and civic-minded spirit in our unique city.
– Willie Lewis Brown, Mayor, San Francisco, 1999

It is through your generosity that we can continue to make a very real difference in the lives of people that so desperately need our help and to our community as a whole. – Carol Detnick, Executive Director, Meals of Marian, 1989

My whole hearted appreciation to the dynamic and wonderful women who made up the Red and White Ball committee. and whose time, generosity and creativity make the Red and White Ball a reality. Last but not least, I would like to thank Pari Livermore whose energy, charm and vision make it not only an incredibly fun party, but a unique giving opportunity. – Sandy Montenegro, 1999

San Francisco beautiful shares your vision of a more wonderful city and know that your contribution will be used throughout the coming year to create, enhance and maintain San Francisco’s civic beauty.
– M. Elizabeth Martin, Executive Director

Thanks for your contributions, San Francisco Beautiful will be able to preserve and improve the beauty and livability of the San Francisco Bay Area through numerous environmental projects and endeavors.
– Robert Harrington, Director Children’s Garden 1998

It is through your support and wonderful generosity that our center will expand and reach further out to those who are abused and abusive.
– Lois Pavlow, President

During my tenure, Pari Livermore and the Red and White Ball committee gave four Red and White Balls for our organization between 1991-1996. Pari’s committee helped keep us afloat during a lean period of our history. They even helped to paint some rooms at our center and brought toys for the children and decorated during the holiday season.
– R. Michael Delagnes, Treasurer, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Society

Pari held a stellar event two years running, staying well within the American Cancer Society parameters our team learned many valuable techniques from building your event committees to pricing to minimize expenses. We were able to run our own events just as successfully when she moved to help other organizations. We left on the best of terms, with Pari receiving our Award for Outstanding Service. This honor is not just a yearly award. A volunteer must serve in an exceptional capacity, over time for it to be earned. We also convinced her to take a seat on our board. This was a benefit to our volunteer management. Pari was very approachable and humble, never expecting anything but maybe a “thank you” and “well done”. I have worked with her and have never met anyone in the other nonprofits she supported who felt differently.
– Jim Claib, Executive Director, American Cancer Society

Because of your support the Family Service Agency / San Francisco will be able to expand our important services for seniors in 1994.
– Deborah A. Lee, President

Your support will reach many families but perhaps most importantly, with your tremendous help we provide partnership of hope to those who bear the burden of caregiving. Please accept our deepest gratitude for your generosity.
– Neil Gilbert, Family Service Agency

I would like to commend each member of the Red and White Ball committee, and Pari Livermore, the founder of the Red and White Ball. An extra special thank you for your extraordinary commitment for being an inspiration to us all.
– Janice R. Lester