Best Wishes

Santa Barbara’s 21-year-old Breast Cancer Resource Center found a different venue to park its annual gala fundraiser, which had 210 guests and raised around $200,000 for the non-profit.

The boffo bash is normally held at the Coral Casino, but because of the devastating mudslides in January the tony beachfront locale couldn’t guarantee an opening date, so the Pink Lounge party was thrown at the Santa Barbara Auto Group on Hope Avenue, suitably draped in white organza, for the first time.

“We obviously didn’t want to send out hundreds of invitations and then find we couldn’t use the location,” says executive director Silvana Kelly. “But this venue has worked out very nicely considering the circumstances.”

Daniel Rychlik, event chair, served as emcee, while Silvia Corral, a doctor, gave a moving account of her successful fight with breast cancer.

The live auction had an Aladdin’s cave off lots, including a Moreno Jewelers aquamarine and diamond white gold ring that was snapped up for $6,250, and a pink patio party for up to 30 people at the State Street Indian hotspot, Bibi Ji, which went for $7,100.

The gaggle of guests included Kerri Murray, Debbie Kass, Marc and Marianne Fialip, Nina Terzian, George and Laurie Leis, Janet Garufis, Peter Hilf, Fred and Sarah Kass, Richard and Nora Scheinberg, Ricardo and Dinah Calderon, Herb and Mary Fox, and Donna Barranco Fisher.