<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>THE SETTING:<\/strong> Austin\u2019s JW Mariott hotel was the recent setting for the annual SAFE Storybook gala. This year\u2019s Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory <\/em>theme ensured there would be yet another great chapter to one of the most anticipated social events of the fall season in the Capital City. In total, the 750 in attendance were treated to a sweet evening of fun and fundraising.<\/p>\n \u00a0THE STYLE:<\/strong> The black-tie partygoers began the evening in the ballroom foyer of the JW with a cocktail hour, which included children who played the roles of the Golden Ticket Winners<\/em> from the iconic movie, along with Oompa Loompa characters, who effortlessly mixed and mingled with the crowd. As the doors opened to the main ballroom, patrons connected with their inner child complete with table displays of lollipops and other confection goodies that ensured even more good times were ahead.<\/p>\n Guests were treated to a multi-course meal that was capped off with a dessert that featured cracking a golden egg in the middle of each table to reveal delicious candy bites for all to enjoy. The evening continued with a spirited live auction that included a host of items perfect for\u00a0 world travelers with trips to Italy, Sri Lanka, France, and Thailand among the items that captured everyone\u2019s Pure Imagination<\/em>. The festivities continued when the Guardian Award was presented to Dr. Upali Weerasooriya for his continued and unwavering support of SAFE. The festivities were capped off with two raffles, from Calvin\u2019s Fine Jewelry and\u00a0 Mercedes Benz of Austin, which were the cherries on top of a perfect evening.<\/p>\n \u00a0THE PURPOSE:<\/strong> The event, co-chaired by Jay and Kelley Lamy, raised over $1.1 million for The SAFE Alliance. SAFE provides stability and healing to all of those who have lived through violence and abuse through housing, prevention programs, and support services to help stop the cycle of abuse.<\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_flex_gallery gallery_ids=”35720,35721,35722,35723,35724,35725,35726,35727,35728,35729,35730,35731,35732,35733,35734,35735,35736,35737,35738,35739,35740,35741,35742,35743,35744,35745,35746,35747″ show_title_and_caption=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.0.9″ caption_font=”||||||||”][\/et_pb_flex_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SAFE Austin\u2019s Annual Storybook Gala Was Sweet Perfection By Rob Giardinelli – Photography by DeAnn Hoeft and Ruben Morales THE SETTING: Austin\u2019s JW Mariott hotel was the recent setting for the annual SAFE Storybook gala. This year\u2019s Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory theme ensured there would be yet another great chapter to one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" THE SCENE:<\/b> Recently, the Center for Child Protection hosted its 12<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> annual <\/span>Dancing with the Stars<\/i> <\/span>event presented by Lexus of Austin and Lakeway. This annual winter social mainstay, held at the JW Marriott, featured 850 notable and stylish Austinites for an evening of fun those on hand will not soon forget.<\/span><\/p> THE VIBE:<\/b> This black-tie extravaganza began in the ballroom foyer of the JW Marriott for cocktails where Austin\u2019s hip and chic mingled with other partygoers as well as the celebrity dancers. The festivities then moved to the ballroom where guests took to their seats and as they dined on a multi-course meal listened to personal video testimonials of how the Center for Child Protection has positively impacted the Austin community. Next was a spirited live auction where guests bid on a host of luxury items. <\/span><\/p> After the live auction, came the main event, the performances by the 12 celebrity dancers. Cheering on their favorites, the revelers were often brought to their feet by the show-stopping performances. Guests then voted for their favorite dancers before Kendall Beard McMinn was crowned the winner. Then, the action continued well into the night as guests danced the night away to the tunes of DJ Gatsby.<\/span><\/p> THE CAUSE:<\/b> The event, chaired by Francie Little and Jenny Mason, raised $1.4 million for the Center for Child Protection. Over the past 25 years the Center for Child Protection has served as a first stop for children in Travis County who have witnessed violent crimes or have experienced physical or sexual abuse.<\/span><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[969,7,42],"tags":[69,135,196,198,328,58,693,59,60,61,65,66],"yoast_head":"\nThe Center for Child Protection\u2019s Annual <\/b><\/span>Dancing with the Stars<\/i> <\/b><\/span>Features 12 Austin Celebrity Dancers<\/b><\/span><\/h2>
By Rob Giardinelli \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Photography by Estrella Chacon, Jeff Loftin Photography, Christina Murphy and Haley Plotkin Photography<\/b><\/span><\/h4>