Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks #2444 hosted their Annual Masquerade Ball Fundraiser on Saturday benefiting the Orange County Foundation for Oncology Children and Families (OCF OCF) raising over $4,000 at auction and $500 in cash donations paid directly to OCF OCF.
Elks Leading Knight Mike Long and wife Vicky (Popeye & Olive Oyl)
Each year in Orange County over 100 children are newly diagnosed with some form of cancer. Combined with children already undergoing treatment, hundreds of families share a common challenge as they are all dealing with stresses that are unimaginable to people who have never been touched by childhood cancer. Medical, financial, emotional, and social hardships can be overwhelming for patients, parents and siblings during treatment. With this in mind, OCF OCF provides support activities, free of charge, to pediatric cancer patients and their families who live or receive treatment in Orange County.
The Phantom & Christine (Jack and Sandy Jacobs) 
As the evening got underway, guests mingled among the 75 silent auction items ready-for-bid and many guests were lucky enough to win raffles prizes too. The Silent Auction gifts were available for everyone’s budget. Allen Cadillac of Laguna Niguel donated a 2-night stay in Palm Springs along with use of a new Cadillac for your visit, many local restaurants donated gift certificates, golf outings, Anaheim Ducks tickets, Los Angeles Angels gift basket, Halloween and Christmas decorations and much, much more. Event organizer, Stephanie Bongartz, welcomed OCF OCF special guest and representative, David Merrill, thanked everyone who helped with set-up for the event and to all guests attending this very worthwhile event that was originated by the late Betty Boelts over 10 years ago. Stephanie sent out a special THANK YOU to her sisters, Amber Toliver and Tammy Carlson, for their tireless effort in making the Costume Masquerade Ball Fundraiser a success.
Outback Steakhouse of Laguna Niguel again sponsored dinner with delicious BBQ ribs, chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, salad and their signature bread. Then all the guests enjoyed hot-out-of-the-oven bread pudding prepared by chef and member Dennis Boelts. DJ Jim Mouth kept the crowd moving with some oldies during dinner, but then picked-up the pace as the evening progressed. It was a fantastic evening for a fantastic organization.
Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 is celebrating 46 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 10 lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 148-year history of giving. “Elks Care Elks Share”
Event coverage and photography by Mike Klinger, Mission Viejo Elks
