'NICE MASK'—Dave and Krystal Ryan enjoy the Mardi Gras ball. The 17th annual Mardi Gras Ball, which benefits Community Conscience's Under One Roof, set a record attendance, according to chair Ricki Mikkelsen.

The ball attracted 400 guests and volunteers, said Mikkelsen, cochair with Barbara Ashcraft.

"We were very excited to have this kind of support during the current economy," said Mikkelsen during the gala on Feb. 21 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza. She gave the attendance figure for last year as 385.

Another record came during the evening's live auction when the headline donation, a week of luxurious accommodations at a Mexican resort home, was sold three times for $7,000 each, said "Irish" John Gore, master of ceremonies and auctioneer.

Other key live auction offerings included time with Sparky Anderson and his wife, and a helicopter ride arranged by the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Department's Lost Hills Station in Calabasas.

Many helping hand organizations benefit from this event, said Ken Humphrey, president of the Community Conscience board of trustees.

Organizers credit major sponsors with contributing to the event's success.

"In these difficult times, how fortunate our community is to have a facility like Community Conscience, Under One Roof Human Services Center as well as all of the fine dedicated nonprofit organizations we support," Humphrey said. "Single mothers, the homeless, seniors, lowincome families, teenagers, Hospice and many others are helped at our center."

The Riverboat Dixie Band played during the champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception. The Fifth Avenue Orchestra performed during dinner and the live auction.

Harry Selvin and Susan Holt were crowned as Mardi Gras King and Queen, in recognition of their sustained community service and awards.

Selvin, on the board of governors for the Civic Arts Plaza's theaters and a member of the Alliance for the Arts board, has attached his name to many causes, including a multiyear pledge to expand the Under One Roof building, Senior Concerns, Hospice of the Conejo and The Wellness Community.

Holt is a 14-year member of the Conejo Recreation and Park District board of directors, chair of the Conejo Coalition for Youth and Families, Conejo Valley Historical Society, Community Leaders Association, and Tres Condados Girl Scouts Council.

Trek for Troops members Paul Rose, 22, Scott Williams, 23, and Matt Walker, 22, sang the national anthem. The Conejo Valley residents plan to hike the Pacific Crest National Scenic trail from Mexico to Canada, to raise funds for Homes for Our Troops, Rose said. "The charity builds and adapts homes for severely wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan."

For information about Trek for Troops, visit the website www.trekfortroops.com.

Helping to produce Mardi Gras 2009 were the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, Soroptimist International of the Conejo and the Westlake High School Key Club.