As inconveniences go, my car battery giving out was a relatively minor one. Not only was I in the habit of carrying around jumper cables but at the time, I was parked near the library and a police station. I had donated books for the children and hand delivered cookies to hungry cops so help seemed close at hand.

Turns out, it was not library policy to provide stranded motorists with aid. I suppose I knew that but it was surprising to hear. I asked the clerk if he, as an individual, would help. After some thought, he decided out loud that he would rather not move his car.

So I walked over to the police station for help. They were also not in the business of helping stranded motorists. In fact, ironically, they prospectively, intentionally and purposefully had a policy against helping anyone jump start her vehicle. As a consolation prize, the officer provided an explanation of liability.

I called AAA but ultimately, my friend rescued me.

Don’t worry, this is not about taxes. The services provided by the police and libraries are important and we should support them. More interesting is how people help each other. Even though I already owe my friend so much, she helped me start my car. Friendship fills the void between personal volition and public service.

The vast majority of the public simply finds Community Legal Services East Palo Alto for help, then leaves. That is how it should be.

PAABA knows that agencies like CLSEPA are more akin to the role of a friend than to that of the police. CLSEPA’s existence is evidence of grace in the universe—where people help each other—and that is a lot like magic. It is a privilege to help and that is why we are so pleased to hold our annual golf tournament.

100 percent of the funds go toward CLSEPA. Although the event transpires on one day, there are many people who volunteer to organize the event. We are indebted to them for another successful year but this also underscores an opportunity to help even if you don’t play golf.

We are thankful for good friends, who are necessary for our society to function and by those standards, CLSEPA is one of the best.

PAABA thanks all our volunteers, sponsors and participants. The PAABA Annual Charity Golf Tournament would not be possible without the kind support of our sponsors: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Foundation, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLC, Latham & Watkins LLP, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, Fish & Richardson, VITA, California Bank & Trust, Rector Motor Car Company, Audi, Jungle Digital, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, Fenwick & West LLP, Finnegan, Howrey LLP, DLA Piper, Law Offices of Murray & Murray, McDermott Will & Emery, Thoits Love Hershberger & McLean, Townsend & Townsend & Crew LLP, Morrison Foerster, Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, Blackstone Discovery, and Winston & Strawn LLP.

PAABA would also like to thank the following organizations or individuals who made donations of items that were used for our PAABA Annual Charity Golf Tournament’s raffle, goodie bags, and contests: Arguello Catering, Crowne Plaza Hotel Palo Alto, Armadillo Willy’s Ranch Grill, Bay Landing Hotel, Document Technologies, Inc., Beltramo’s Wines & Spirits, Domain Hotel, Bon Appetit Management Company, Fish Market, Books, Inc., Garden Court Hotel, Boulder Creek Golf & Country Club, Golf Tech, Hilton Santa Clara, Chache Creek Casino Resort, CLSEPA Board, Hobee’s California Restaurants, JAMS Inc., Safeway Palo Alto, Kepler’s Books, Scott’s Seafood Palo Alto, Mango Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, Sports Basement, Sports Gallery, Mark Shepherd, Stanford Terrace Inn, Ming’s Chinese Cuisine & Bar, Taylor Made, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, THomson West, PAABA Board, Townplace Suites by Marriott, Palo Alto Eyeworks, Patrick and James, Vinter’s, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Vivace Ristorante, Photography Rick Saal, Westin Palo Alto Hotel, Ristorante Don Giovanni, Wild Palms Hotel, Rosewood Sand Hill, Wine and Country, Yoga Source, and Safeway Menlo Park.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!