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After Tracey Biletnikoff was murdered by someone she had dated, her family formed the Biletnikoff Foundation, located in Dublin, in her memory. Before she died, she was working toward becoming a drug rehabilitation counselor at the Women's Recovery Association in San Mateo, the facility that had helped her overcome substance abuse.

Tracey was the daughter of Fred Biletnikoff, who was All-AFL/AFC four times, 1971 NFL receiving champion, and played in two AFL All-Star games, four AFC-NFC Pro Bowls, eight AFL/AFC title games and two Super Bowls. He was MVP in Super Bowl XI. He was the Oakland Raiders wide-receiver coach. Biletnikoff has a national award named after him. For the past 12 years the Biletnikoff Award has been presented to young men in football who continue to have outstanding careers in the NFL.

Now the foundation is planning its 10th annual Celebrity Crab Fest & Sports Auction from 6 to 11 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, at the Marriott at Bishop Ranch in San Ramon. Tickets are $130 per person and attire is casual. Last year's sold-out event raised $60,000 for the foundation.

Master of ceremonies will be Greg Papa, Bay Area sports broadcaster and radio voice of the Oakland Raiders, who are celebrating their 50th season.

Confirmed celebrity guests include Greg Townsend, Michael and Merriweather, Mervyn Fernandez, Jerry Porter, Mel Renfro, Mark Davis, Lincoln Kennedy, MacArthur Lane, Raymond Chester, Clem Daniels, Jack Tatum, Loreto Garza, George Atkinson, Bob Lilly, Raider coaches and staff; Tom Flores; Jeremy Brigham, Former Raider Tight End and M.A.D.F. Founder; Joey Gilbert, from television show The Contender, and former World Boxing Organization and North American Boxing Organization Super middleweight Champ; Joey Chestnut, World Hot Dog Eating Champ; Robert L. Mundo, former Golden Gloves of the U.S. Air Force, and many more.

The Biletnikoff Foundation supports Tracey's Place of Hope, a residential treatment program; the Women's Recovery Association for girls who are low-income, homeless or at risk of homelessness; Biletnikoff Foundation Scholarship Fund; Tim Brown Touchdown Club; East Bay Agency for Children; Tim Brown Mentor Camp; Live Oak Swim Team for "at-risk" children during the summer; Families First with services for children and families; and STAND! Against Domestic Violence.

Crab Fest 2009 highlights include dinner with celebrities and past and present Oakland Raiders; live entertainment from Mad Jack; choreographer La Tonya Watts' East Bay Dance Company in a Michael Jackson tribute; drawings for diamond jewelry and a 58-inch flat screen TV; and a special performance by the Raiderettes, and the Biletnikoff Angels.

There will be live and silent auctions with many exclusive items available for bid, including sports memorabilia; Hall of Fame travel packages, an Oakland Raiders home game package; a package for a performance of The Nutcracker at War Memorial Opera house with the Biletnikoffs; foursome of golf at the Olympic Club in San Francisco; Angel Island deluxe day for four people; Bay Area airplane flight for three by Tucknott Electric; sports celebrities autographs; and wine tasting by Robert Mondavi Winery that is donating all the wine for the Crab Fest.

There also will be a Red Carpet photo shoot. A highlight will be Don Dimas Cigars with hand-rolled cigars.

For the fifth year, the Biletnikoff Foundation will be giving back even more to the community by awarding $1,000 educational grants to aid high school seniors to fulfill their dreams of entering college.

Crab Fest sponsorship opportunities are available from title sponsor at $25,000 to grant sponsorship at $1,000. Ticket holders who are grant sponsors of $1,000 will have the opportunity to award the scholarships in person at the Crab Fest.

For tickets and information contact the Biletnikoff Foundation at 556-2525. Tickets may be ordered online at www.biletnikoff.net.

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