Ronnie Lott a champ at Gateway Public Schools’ fundraiser

Except for the five or so folks who don’t know NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the sold-out crowd at Gateway Public School’s recent Matters of the Mind lunch was abuzz over this fundraiser’s keynote speaker.

It was a bold blitz by co-chairs Sara Byrne and Susan Matso to feature the four-time Super Bowl champ, and scored more than $380K in support of Gateway’s education and college counseling programs.

Aside from his gridiron glory days, Lott is a also dedicated philanthropic leader who, in 1989, founded the childhood anti-poverty seed-funder All-Stars Helping Kids.

Stepping off the auditorium stage to wander the aisles, microphone in hand, Lott channeled a coach rallying his team mixed with a preacher saving souls, passionately expounding on the power of education, families and teammates, including two of his own in the audience: Harris Barton and Bill Ring.

“Today isn’t just about raising money; it’s about changing your heart,” Lott declared. “Like these guys, my teammates, who changed my heart because in sports you have to share.”

Even sans a football team, Gateway students are top scorers: More than 96 percent of graduating seniors — twice the national average — attend college. They also support each other in their studies and those dealing with life challenges.

But academically qualified students in the school’s Burt Toler Scholars program (named for the late, great USF Don football player and the first black NFL on-field official), proudly wear a cool varsity jacket. And after presenting one to Lott, the students were thrilled when Lott whipped out his phone for a group selfie.

“Our theme is ‘Championing Success.’ And that’s why we have Ronnie Lott. But I want to challenge us to consider a different definition: A champion is also an advocate, a supporter, someone who takes up the cause of another,” said Gateway Executive Director Sharon Olken. “When we choose to be champions of others, everyone wins. And let’s face it, we can’t all be Super Bowl champions.”

Digging deep: Education Outside, the public school program founded by philanthropist Randi Fisher and author-advocate Arden Bucklin-Sporer, is dedicated to science. Yet during its second City Picnic at Dogpatch Wineworks, it’s clear EO is also good at math.

Supporters not only doubled in attendance this year but they raised twice as much ($200K) to fund this two-year service corps program at on-campus gardens where college grads teach hands-on science to public elementary school students.

“We live in a cradle of science and innovation yet our students arrive at middle school having decided they don’t like science,” said Bucklin-Sporer, EO executive director. “But we’re changing that dynamic — an education that’s rich in science and nature is the essential foundation for growing our next generation of scientific and literate citizens, creative thinkers, voters, smart consumers and environmental stewards.”

In partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, Education Outside has also multiplied: Its curriculum is now present in 37 schools reaching 14,000 students. EO trains and employs 44 college grads and plans a Bay Area expansion.

Patricia Unterman, author, restaurateur and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market co-founder, is such a true EO believer, she signed on again with event co-chairs Carla Crane and Lori Hunter to curate and corral the exquisite City Picnic feast served by local top toques (including Coi’s Daniel Patterson, Piccino’s Margherita Sagan, Liholiho Yacht Club’s Ravi Kapur, Bix’s Bruce Hill), which was crowned by Jay Foster’s Farmer Brown fried chicken and brassica fried rice, the greens of which were grown, harvested and cooked by EO students.

“This program engages, excites and motivates kids about science,” enthused EO trustee Charles Zukow. “I wish I’d had that when I was a kid!”

Irish honors: On his recent West Coast tour, Irish President Michael Higgins toured towers of tech, spoke on the shadowy plight of “the Irish undocumented” and visited senior citizens at the United Irish Cultural Center.

He also planted a tree in Berkeley in honor of the six Irish students killed in a balcony collapse and the first responders who provided aid to their injured friends and families.

In addition to Irish Consul General Philip Grant, a key responder was the Rev. Brendan McBride, founder of the Irish Immigration and Pastoral Center, whose service was formally recognized by Higgins with Ireland’s Presidential Distinguished Service Award.

At the Irish cultural center, Higgins spoke about the bonds of music, sports and literature shared by the Irish and Irish immigrants around the world. Though he never mentioned McBride’s good deed, the good father’s compassionate care must have been on the president’s mind.

“But among all of us,” said Higgins, “there is no greater bond than helping each other.”

Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicle’s society correspondent. missbigelow@sfgate.com