Annual Ball Raises $45,000 for Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation

By Lookout Staff

June 6, 2017 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation's gala dinner and dance competition last month raised $45,000 that will help fund programs at all district schools, Foundation officials announced Monday.

Held at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel on May 21, the Sand & Sea Ball featured six civic and business leaders who were paired with professional dancers in a competition modeled after “Dancing with the Stars.”

Photo by Yolanda Lewis

This year’s dancers were (from left in picture) Evelyn Guerboian, financial officer of Atelier by Edward Avedis; SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati; Beth Hansler, national sales manager for Loews Hotel; Dr. Kimberly Petrick of Kaiser Permanente; Santa Monica Fire Chief Bill Walker and Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline A. Seabrooks.

Dr. Petrick won the Mirror Ball Trophy for her "spirited Rumba," Foundation officials said.

“The Sand & Sea Ball is a fun and lively community event,” said Foundation Executive Director Linda Greenberg. “It is an exuberant celebration of dance and music, all in support of incredible arts programs for our students."

The competition was produced by Arthur Murray Santa Monica, which partnered the dancers with a professional instructor and provided 14 lessons to prepare for the competition.

Sponsors of the event included title sponsors Kaiser Permanente and Loews Hotel, as well as Arclight Cinemas Santa Monica; Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal, LLP; Huntley Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Place/Macerich.

Other sponsors were Bob Gabriel Co. Insurance, in memory of Bob & Louise Gabriel; DFH Architects; Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM), the Santa Monica Police Officers Association, Santa Monica Travel and Tourism (SMTT) and and WNMS Communities.

The Foundation's mission is "to engage the community to invest in a vibrant
educational experience for all students in the Santa Monica and Malibu public schools."

All donations to the Foundation help fund programs -- from art to STEM to wellness -- that "shape our future problem solvers, visionaries and global citizens," officials said.

To learn more about SMMEF visit www.smmef.org.