“It exceeded our expectations. We were hanging from the rafters,” said Nancy Gardner about the first-ever “La Jolla Dancing with the Stars” fundraiser Oct. 5 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.
Gardner, a La Jolla Town Council trustee, spearheaded a committee that organized the gala event, which she said was standing-room-only.
“We had 300 people and 30 tables, and we added three more tables and we filled those, and committee members were standing up so people could be seated,” she said.
Gardner said the event was so successful plans are already underway to hold it again next year.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Gardner said. “It was of the community, by the community and for the community.”
Gardner said children might be the charity focus of next year’s fundraiser.
Gardner thanked the event committee, and said they did “an incredible job.”
Six women and four men from the community were paired up with professional dancers for the competition, which was judged by assistant police chief Shelley Zimmerman, La Jollan Ramin Porteymour, Billy Ray Smith, Scott Kaplan and head judge Jonathan Roberts of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” — Dave Schwab