There was something for everyone at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley celebration including dozens of “Aladdin’s Silent Auction” items, the buying warm up to the “Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves” live auction.

Guests rock the Kasbah for ‘Positive Place for Kids’
at dinner auction

February 11, 2015
Santa Paula News

It was a lush “Midnight at the Oasis” for the 11th Annual Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley Dinner/Auction, where a sold-out crowd rocked the Kasbah Saturday night to benefit the Positive Place for Kids!

With a belly dancer entertaining guests for the “Casablanca” cocktail hour and “Aladdin’s Silent Auction” offering a kingdom of riches for those looking for unique gifts, Saticoy Country Club was transformed into a magic carpet ride of good times for a great cause, raising funds for the clubs that serve Santa Clara River Valley children and youth.

“I always try to win baskets with food,” said Vivian Mullet who later in the evening wryly showed off her basket - holding treats for dogs.

“Well,” Vivian noted wryly, “it’s food!”

Many guests dressed to the theme including Gary Nasalroad who good-naturedly took some serious ribbing about his plain keffiyeh headdress noting, “No, it’s not a tablecloth... it’s a curtain! I should have let my beard grow a little.”

Bearded Bob Orlando on the other hand appeared as a sheik with a keffiyeh usually associated with royalty topping off his tuxedoed look. Bob had a grand - but jovial - manner to go with it while Becci Orlando wore an elaborately embroidered and brightly colored beaded jacket befitting the wife of her sheik but her signature grin kept giving away her sense of fun. 

Beverly Rueckert was an enchanting Indian Maharani from the top of her head sheathed in beads to her toes and her turban and robe wearing husband Nils the perfect Maharaja... or, as one guest teased, “The Amazing Karnak” a.k.a. one of the late Johnny Carson’s most beloved characters.

B&GCSCV Board President Ari Larson welcomed the more than 250 guests and thanked them for “braving the weather” to drive through the rain to show their support.

“Gary (Nasalroad) said to stress how supporting our kids is an investment in our community, our future” and the clubs do just that with the “Best staff, best volunteers and best supporters,” Ari said she has ever worked with.

She introduced Santa Paula Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi, Fillmore Councilwoman Diane McCall, Camarillo Councilman Mike Morgan, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean, Santa Paula Fire Chief Rick Araiza and other notable supporters, including Board Director VCSD Captain and Fillmore Police Chief Dave Wareham. Ari also thanked the sponsors of the event. 

“We are the poorest club in Ventura County but with your support you put us in the running,” said B&GCSCV Executive Director Jan Marholin. 

Jan thanked staff and volunteers for their efforts in making “Midnight at the Oasis” a success.

She also thanked the club site managers for their efforts ensuring that the “Positive Place for Kids” remains so with innovative programs such as Robotics, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), real time virtual tours of such places as Channel Islands and museums, trips for Club girls to UCSB and other activities that are “So much fun they don’t realize they’re learning!” and striving for a secure, self-fulfilling future.

A future such as the one on the horizon for Javier Valdavinos, a former Club Kid who now works at the Fillmore Clubhouse as program staff while attending California Lutheran University. 

“He is a fantastic role model for our youth,” said Jan who invited him to say a few words.

The club said Javier “Is the Positive Place for Kids,” and he thanked his family for seeing the value of it “as the place to grow... thank you for your support of this great organization. 

“It was,” Javier told the crowd, “a wonderful experience!”

Following the “Arabian Nights” dinner the “Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves” live auction saw auctioneer Steve Hammond of San Diego again handling the gavel for fast and furious buying from the treasure chest of riches.

“Gina loves to bid,” said John Marquez of his wife as he teasingly tucked away the program with the couple’s bidding number under his plate... but not far enough that Gina couldn’t snatch it later.

Top bids of $3,000 each were given for the Head Tables (purchased again by John Macik  and Guy Cole) and the Mobley Faria Beach House Vacation package.

Fun items included Shooting Simulator Training with VCSD Commander Tim Hagel who good-naturedly talked up the prize for the crowd (and brought a winning $1,400 bid), 9 Full Yards of Concrete/DMI Ready Mix ($1,000), CP Aviation Flight to Catalina ($1,100) and even Fourth of July Fireworks at the Johns ($250). Hosted dinners at glamorous ranches, beach stays, a Maui condo and more were up for auction - and an added bonus for the Club was the Stand Up for Kids where several guests jumped to their feet to donate $5,000 and more and more stood for lesser amounts that added up to a very successful evening.

Club Board Director Karen Araiza-Reynolds and Troyce Reynolds also thought the evening was successful as they sealed the live bidding deal for their annual vacation with “A Night of Wine & Winning” getaway to Chumash Casino.

“We get this package every year,” said Karen as Troyce noted the prize “Even comes with a basket!” filled with the certificates for fine dining, spa services and the hotel as well as spa goodies.

“The energy was really amazing,” said Marholin at the end of the evening. “Everyone was having a great time!”





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