Here is a woman who is fierce and nearly vicious about the fact that a museum deserves the $200 million it takes. She gives first, millions of her own money, then sets about the San Francisco social elite community to bring others on board. Thousands of donations are added to the fund and before long, even the fact that there was no tax based support for the program means nothing. Her aggressive approach to fundraising manages to create a huge groundswell of support and the museum then becomes an impending reality rather than a mere hope for something great. Because of this tenacity and hard line approach to encouraging others to do their civic duty, Dede Wilsey can be held as a real beacon for what is possible once one person determines that good must be done despite the costs.