It is for good reason that the Community Conscience Mardi Gras Ball is known as the Conejo Valley’s Best Party of the Year, and this year was no different. The Eighteenth Annual Mardi Gras Ball, held on February 20, 2010 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza Hotel in Westlake Village, was another banner event for Community Conscience, “Under One Roof” Human Services Center. With two bands, complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres, a silent and live auction, an exceptional four-course meal, and dancing into the wee hours of the night, the Mardi Gras Ball was a great hit for those in attendance. Proceeds from the event will help to keep the dream of Community Conscience alive.

And what Mardi Gras Ball party would be complete without a King and Queen? This year Community Conscience was proud to honor two well-deserving and long-time community volunteers, Bob Rickards and Almeda Babcock as the King and Queen of this year’s Mardi Gras Ball.

More than 360 guests, dressed in black ties, evening gowns, and a variety of costumes, arrived to the upbeat sound of The Riverboat Dixie Band and enjoyed complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres, while bidding on more than 225 wonderful silent auction packages. Prizes included vacation trips, tickets for museums and sporting events, prize winning photographs, evenings out and garden fountains. Complimentary Limoncello samples, provided by Ventura Limoncello Company, added a new taste to the evening.

From the silent auction, the guests made their way to the Grand Ballroom where they danced to the sounds of The Fifth Avenue Orchestra, enjoyed a wonderful dinner which included a duo of filet mignon and blackened salmon with complimentary red and white wine, and had their ‘bid numbers’ in hand as this year’s Auctioneer, Irish John Gore, kept the evening rolling during the Live Auction. Live auction items included a week of luxurious accommodations at Casa Acantilada at Manzanillo, Mexico, donated by Mark Barger; a one-hour helicopter ride for 2, plus $150.00 towards dinner at the Tower Club, donated by Jeff Cook, Bruce Hamilton, and Larry Levine; a “High Noon” Lunch with Ventura County’s outgoing top Sheriff, Bob Brooks, and combat simulator training; an “Entertainer’s Delight” with Chef Ron Tavakoli, owner/chef of Limon Latin Grill, and his number one bartender, Danny Case, who will prepare a special dinner and create cocktails, while entertaining up to 10 people; and a Brett Favre Jersey donated by the Reznick Group.

Major sponsors are an important part of every Mardi Gras Ball. This year Community Conscience was very pleased to introduce an ever growing list of Major Sponsors, including for the 13th consecutive year FB Productions, along with First California Bank, StorQuest Self Storage, and The Mel Ashcraft Family as $5,000 Platinum sponsors. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Dole Food Company and John McArthur-The Art Department provided support as Silver Sponsors. And this year’s Bronze Sponsors included Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, Silver Star Automotive Group, and The Oaks Mall and Verizon. The generosity and support of our major sponsors can not be overstated. Our organization is deeply grateful for their support, which contributed to the evening’s success. We hope you will support these sponsors throughout the year!

As has been the case for many years, our sincere thanks and gratitude to our volunteers: First California Bank, the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, LSS Community Care Centers, the Meathead Movers, Soroptimist International of the Conejo, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Westlake High School Key Club and other volunteers whose help is invaluable to the success of the Mardi Gras Ball.
And of course, a special thanks to the hard work and generosity of members of our community for making this year’s event one of the best ever!

A fun evening was enjoyed by all, thanks to the talents, hard work, and support of hundreds, including the non-profit organizations housed in the “Under One Roof” Human Services Center. The nonprofit organizations in the Under One Roof building will once again benefit from the proceeds of the evening.

Ken Humphrey & Sue Gore, 2010 Event Co-Chairs
Mark your calendars for February 19, 2011