Leno, Lucas, Lowenstein pack Nite's house

SAN FRANCISCO--Last night the ESA Foundation's annual Nite to Unite for Kids fundraiser rolled in to town like clockwork. For the eighth consecutive year, the event set up camp at Union Square's posh St. Francis Hotel. As usual, the proceedings kicked off with a silent auction, after which they moved in to the hotel's Grand Ballroom for dinner and presentations. Then evening participants decamped for the unofficial but widely attended after-event at the Clift Hotel's Redwood Room just up the street.

To build on last year's unannounced appearance by Robin Williams (who skewered 2004's Champion Award winner and close personal friend Bing Gordon of Electronic Arts), last night's Nite to Unite delivered even greater star power in the form of headlining comedian Jay Leno (who underwhelmed many with a long-winded, near-robotic 35-minute routine) and this year's Champion Award winner, the renowned film director George Lucas.

Lucas was introdced by Hayden Christensen, the Canadian actor who played Anakin Skywalker in the recently released Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Lucas kept his comments short, joking about the early motivations that prompted him to start a game division. "I got into the business because I had a deep interest in educational software." He then ad-libbed, commenting on how such a focus drove few dollars and cents into the company's coffers.

Lucas' involvement in the lives of children is obviously not reliant on driving profits, as he founded the George Lucas Educational Foundation in 1991. The work of that organization brings technology in to the classroom so kids can become acquainted with the tools and craft of creating digital entertainment.

Admitting he has little time to even play games anymore, Lucas nonetheless graciously accepted the Champion Award, studied it with some gravity, and told the audience, "I appreciate this. Thank you very much."

Jay Leno then bolted onstage to deliver his tepid spiel, closing out the evening's organized festivities.

ESA Foundation executive director Jenny Lai told GameSpot this year's Nite drew a record 920 attendees. The popularity of this year's event was noticeable in the tightly packed ballroom, whose closely situated tables made it nearly impossible to walk freely.

The event was attended by an A-list of industry heavyweights, including Sony's Andy House, Kaz Hirai, and Jack Tretton, as well as Electronic Arts' Larry Probst, Paul Lee, Carolyn Feinstein, and last year's honoree, Bing Gordon.

Also seen were outgoing Activision president Kathy Vrabeck, Shiny's Dave Perry, Insomniac's Ted Price, former Sega boss Bernie Stollar, Jamdat's Mitch Lasky, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime and George Harrison, new Eidos boss Bill Gardner, Xbox czar Robbie Bach, former Microsoft Game Studios leader Ed Fries, Brian Farrell and Germaine Gioia of THQ, Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna of Oddworld, Crave president Rob Dyer, Disney's Bob Picunko, Flagship Studios cofounder Bill Roper, and Ubisoft's Tony Kee and James Regan.

Electronic Software Association president Doug Lowenstein helmed the Association's table front and center, while the ESA's Carolyn Rauch and ESRB president Patricia Vance were also in attendance.

While the organizers are still counting contributions from the live auction, silent auction, and eBay auction of donated items, they are hopeful the record crowds will translate to record contributions. The ESA Foundation expects to release the final tally sometime next week.