Go figure.

Anyway, the gala at the new Sheraton Resort & Spa in Carlsbad drew more than 250 guests – some dressed in red, some not – and netted $35,000 for Childhelp.

Of that sum, 40 percent goes to the San Diego Family Recovery and Childhelp Center. The next 35 percent goes to the Childhelp Merv Griffin Village in Beaumont, and the remaining 25 percent goes to support a 24-hour hotline: (800) 4-A-CHILD.

Daran Grimm and Ron McMillan co-chaired the ball, and the guest list included the two women who founded Childhelp in 1959: Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, here from Arizona for the party.

The chairwoman was a standout in a dramatic, beaded, red velvet dress from the House of Gianfranco Ferre. (Edoardo Ciulli, who is married to Daran and Ray Grimm's daughter, Danica, prompted his mother-in-law when she couldn't remember the name of the late Italian designer.)

“Dancing With the Stars” was the gala's subtitle, and professional ballroom dancers mingled with guests in a program after dinner. The Heroes played for dancing.

Some of the people in the crowd were Jeanette and Jim Arthur (Jeanette is president of the Childhelp San Diego chapter), Cynthia and Joel Ayers, Lisa Rush and Randy Bowers, Derelys Delano, Susan Clifton and Mark Holmes, Stella and Duane Dier, Jeannie Campanella, JoAnn and Joe Caracciolo, Jacquie and Michael Casey, Mary and Gordon Ceresino, and Kurtina and Dennis Chodorow.

Others included Patti Giles and Phil Lowers, Karen and Steven Gray, Barb and Mike Kinney, Rory McMahon, Pam and Bud Pharris, Bob Schurman, Joani and Chuck Wafer (Joani was the event's honorary chair), Cecily and Travis Wheeler, and Margo Schwab and her husband, Scott Johnston.

The Johnstons brought their dog Kima, a 3-year-old German boxer, for the cocktail hour. Margo wore red chiffon, and Kima wore red taffeta with a black tulle underskirt, her nails painted red to match.

“Her dress was made by Jemima of La Jolla,” Margo pointed out. “She makes all of Kima's clothes.”