Mardi Gras Ball Raises Funds for Aliso Viejo Boys & Girls Club

More than 100 supporters of the Aliso Viejo branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley attended the Mardi Gras Ball at the Aliso Viejo Conference Center Tuesday evening. Guests paid $150 per person to dance to music hotter than cayenne pepper and dine on a full buffet that included crawfish and oysters.

Guests arriving at the soiree were greeted by OneOC volunteers Cindy Braun and Yolanda Origel, who helped with check-in.  OneOC connects community volunteers with nonprofit organizations.

"We're promoting volunteerism in Orange County," said Origel. " The Boys & Girls Club is a great cause."

Aliso Viejo City Council member Greg Ficke was on hand to celebrate the BGCCV's fifth year in Aliso Viejo.

"The Boys & Girls Club is a tremendous asset to the community. It's a fantastic organization that really helps youth with their direction in life," Ficke said.

As guests entered the main hall, they began dining on a buffet of Cajun food.  After dining, party guests took to the dance floor. Musical entertainment was provided by Super Hot T-Lou and His Zydeco Band.

There were silent auction prizes placed on tables. Prize donations were made by several companies, including Tommy Bahama and Beringer. Prizes for an opportunity drawing included a  NOOK donated by Cox Communications and four donated hotel stays provided by Broughton Hospitality.

Boys & Girls Club children made dozens of Mardi Gras masks, which were placed on a table. Guests voted for their favorite mask, and the young winner of the mask contest would enjoy dinner, compliments of Ricardo's Place.

Bausch + Lomb CEO Robert Grant and his wife, Kathryn, attended the party and were crowned king and queen of Mardi Gras.  Bausch + Lomb was one of the sponsors for the evening.

Vice president of resource development for the BGCCV Marybeth Stephens was on hand, making sure the evening flowed smoothly.

"The Boys & Girls club is a safe place for children. It's a positive place where kids can go after school," she said.

The BGCCV offers several programs to young people in the Capistrano Valley community. Leadership, career guidance, arts and sports may all be explored by youngsters.

"We also have a program called Healthy Habits," said Stephens. "Healthy and active living are encouraged through mind, body and soul."

BGCCV branch director Joel Rivera joined in on the festivities.

"I was a member of the Boys & Girls Club. It's hard to put into words what it meant to me ... that I had such a positive place to go. I just took it for granted that I would have the Boys & Girls Club there for me. I think the kids who attend our club now will realize later how important it was in their lives," Rivera said.

Rivera has worked for the Boys & Girls Club for 21 years.

"I grew up in Chicago. Some of my relatives were in gangs. I might have wound up like them. But the Boys & Girls Club gave me somewhere fun and safe to be," Rivera said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley is at 1 Via Positiva in San Juan Capistrano.  Contact it at 949-240-7898.