Having a Ball

The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse’s 32nd annual Amethyst Ball at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara was a real gem!

The socially gridlocked bash attracted around 350 glamorously garbed guests and raised more than $500,000 for the 68-year-old charity, which has an annual budget of $5.6 million serving more than 8,600 people with 23 programs for youth and adults.

The gala honored the staff of the local ABC affiliate, KEYT-TV, for their partnership with CADA for more than 20 years – which hosted its first Mission for Mentors in 1997 – and its tireless and vital reporting through the Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow, was co-chaired by Anne Towbes, Diana MacFarlane, Holly Murphy, Dana Mazzetti, Susan Neuman, and Betsy Turner.

The cavernous ball room was again magnificently decorated by Montecito event whiz Merryl Brown for its Twistin’ at the Ritz theme, with ’60s rocker Chubby Checker & the Wildcats and Dishwalla performing.

The tireless Andrew Firestone conducted the auction at breakneck speed, including a trip to Seville, Spain, for $10,500 and “an unparalleled party” catered by local restaurateur Dario Fulati and winemaker Doug Margerum, with entertainment by Dishwalla, at the mountaintop home of singer Alan Parsons and his wife, Lisa, which was snapped up for $25,000.

Men’s committee co-chair Peter Hilf donated $70,000 to the cause, while Merryl contributed a $10,000 check.

A silent auction featured a ski vacation in Utah, a week’s stay at the Joshua Tree desert retreat of rocker Eric Burdon, eight days in Thailand, and a seven-day Caribbean trip to a choice of Antigua, St. Lucia, Panama, Barbados, and the Grenadines.

Among the tony throng at the socially gridlocked beano were Catherine Remak, Bob Murphy, Terry Ryken, Barry and Jelinda DeVorzon, Ralph MacFarlane, C.J.Ward, Beth Farnsworth, Joe Buttitta, Stacey Sakai, John and Hazel Blankenship, Chuck and Margarita Lande, Larry Gosselin, Roberto Van Geenen, Craig and Amy Zimmerman, Dan and Caroline Encell, David Edelman, Chris and Mindy Denson, Lori Luhnow, Richard Weston-Smith, Bob and Patty Bryant, Virgil Elings, Paul and Jane Orfalea, Michael and Nati Smith, Allen and Anne Sides, and Eric and Nina Phillips.