Inaugural Mission Possible Gala Benefits Bay Area’s Missing and At-Risk Kids

Founded in 2017, the organization Special Operations – Finding Kids hires retired law enforcement and boots-on-the-ground private investigators to find missing and exploited children, and get them and their families the support they need. On May 6 the organization held its first-ever benefit to fund these critical services, the Mission Possible Gala 2025. California Governor Gavin Newsom, retired NFL star and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch and the Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr. were just a few of the local celebrities who turned out to show their support.

The elegant gathering of 240 guests was held at San Francisco’s Saint Joseph’s Art Society, and the evening’s festivities included a lively cocktail reception, a multi-course seated dinner by Componere Culinary, a live auction and music performed by singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson. With the money raised by the event–over $850,000 in total–Finding Kids can expand its work in the Bay Area and to other child trafficking “hot spots” in California. As CEO Isabelle Finney said, “As a community-based organization, we are passionate about protecting the innocence of children and keeping them safe.”