A Key Event

Uber party planner Merryl Brown hosted a garden party at her East Valley Road antebellum-style home for former international event producer John Daly’s 12-year-old Key Class, which mentors at-risk and other students in learning important life skills, including social etiquette.

With a $120,000 annual budget, it has taught more than 10,000 students, mostly from the Santa Barbara Unified School District, with four classes, each lasting 90 minutes to two hours.

Guest speaker was Andrew Diffenderfer, 16, a Dos Pueblos High student, who just won the Teen Star competition at the Marjorie Luke Theatre, and in February will be auditioning for the ABC show American Idol in Los Angeles, with one of the judges being local singer Katy Perry, who also attended Dos Pueblos.

“The Key Class gave me a good sense of life skills, personally and professionally,” said Andrew. “Particularly table manners and interviewing for a job. It made me feel more comfortable and professional as I pursue my career.”

Among those turning out for the fun fête, offering Merci Montecito cakes and McConnell’s ice cream, were emcee Geoff Green, Marcia Constance, Anne Towbes, Catherine Remak, Dean Wilson of the Turner Foundation, the new president of the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation Melinda Cabrera, and Chelsea Duffy, executive director of Partners in Education.

A swellegant afternoon.