Mardi Gras royalty announced





The 15th annual Mardi Gras Ball, sponsored by Community Conscience, is scheduled for Sat., Feb. 24 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza. The event is the organization’s major annual fundraiser, which draws between 300 to 400 guests.

A champagne reception and silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. with gourmet dinner to follow at 7:30 p.m. Attire is black tie. Mardi Gras costume optional.

Mardi Gras co-chairpersons and event masters of ceremonies will be Dee and Dave Crawford of Westlake Village.

All event proceeds will go toward offsetting more than $250,000 of rent for the tenants in the “Under One Roof” Human Services Center in Thousand Oaks. The Human Services Center building provides one-stop services to those in need and houses 11 local nonprofit organizations which serve the community.

Frank Bellinghiere and Marion Schillo, two longtime community volunteers, will reign as King and Queen of the Ball,

Bellinghiere was nominated by the Conejo Free Clinic, for whom he has been a strong supporter for the last 20 years. He serves as a clinic volunteer attorney once a month, has served on the clinic board as president, has been on numerous committees and is active on the committee to support the benefit golf tournament.

He is also involved with the Wellness Community, Senior Concerns, Hospice of the Conejo, Casa Pacifica and was with the YMCA.

Schillo has served on the Community Conscience board of trustees and was involved with the initial fundraising efforts to build the Human Services Center building.

She created the Dombey Circle Library in her garage for children and is promoting goodwill by offering peace medallions. She has served on many community boards and with many nonprofit organizations, including the Gloria De Art Festival, League of Women Voters, Thousand Oaks Art Association and Catholic Charities.

Local volunteer Irish John Gore will conduct the Louisiana Live Auction. Items up for bid include vacations, a bronze sculpture by David Spellerberg’s National Heritage Collector’s Society, naming opportunity for Community Conscience’s new flagpole and the opportunity to fly in an Italian-built military war plane and engage in a real-time dog fight in “Fighter Pilot for a Day.”

Tickets are $125, or a table for 10 can be purchased for $1,000. Call the Community Conscience office at (805) 4943543 for information and tickets.


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