The 22nd annual Evening Under the Stars raised nearly $150,000 in the live auction to benefit the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer.

The event, held Saturday, Sept. 19 at Robinson Ranch Golf Club, will also include proceeds from silent auction, reverse raffle and sponsorships after the proceeds are tallied.

“It was a great event tonight,” said Gillian Stone, executive director of the Hoefflin Foundation. “I am excited to add up our numbers, I think was a very, very successful evening. This will help us help a lot of kids, that’s what it is all about.”

The live auction total included more than $67,000 raised from the Fund-A-Need requests.

“This is one of the best run fundraisers,” said auctioneer Mark Drilling, of Stokes Auction Group. “They do so much good in the community.”

Among the most fought over items was the Head Table to the 2016 Evening Under the Stars which was purchased by Glen Sherman for $19,000. He has held the “rights” to the head table for the past several years and engaged in a spirited bidding war to keep the table for next year’s event.

Use of a 3,800 sq. ft. Kahana, Maui vacation home for seven days earned $8,750; a Kings game first level, center court Staples luxury suit was won for a $5,100 bid and $3,900 for a Lakers game; a custom-made suit from J. Davids Custom Clothier was bought for $2,600.

The live auction included vacations, jewelry, art and a variety of other sought-after items.

Rick Garcia, news anchor of the KCBS Channel 2 News at 4:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., served as emcee of the event.

The Reverse Raffle for a 15 Day Hawaiian Cruise donated by the Princess Cruises Community Foundation was won by Darrell Friedman. Tickets cost $100 each with only 200 tickets available.

The evening included many emotional moments when cancer survivors and parents of children who had lost, and who had won, their cancer battles told their moving stories to the crowd of more than 500 attending the event.

Photos of children who have died in the past year from cancer were displayed on a large screen at the back of the stage during the event, a reminder of why the Hoefflin Foundation exists.

“There were nine children on the screen this year,” said Drilling. “That’s nine too many.”

After the dinner and auction, the crowd was entertained by The Kelly Rae Band, and many guests took advantage of the dance floor set up in front of the stage.

Co-chairs of the event were Brenda Neilson and Tim and Jenny Ketchepaw. Gala Vice-chairs included Gail Berke, Bob Jenner, Rob Comeau, Shannon King Frank Hoffman, Rose Waganaar, Bill Morton, Andrea Morton, Marcia Davis and Leigh Ann Stiglich.

“I would like you come away with this thought tonight,” said Neilson. “The Michael Hoefflin Foundation not only supports children with cancer, but also their families, families in this community, your community.”

The Michael Hoefflin Foundation was established in 1995 in honor of Michael Hoefflin, who had recurrent brain cancer. Michael was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 6, after years of remission and reoccurrence; he died on May 15, 1996, at age 11.

The goals of the Hoefflin Foundation include: Finding better treatments and cures through medical research, promoting awareness of childhood cancer; and assisting local children and their families through outreach programs and emotional and financial support.

Families receive grocery and gasoline assistance, information and referrals, entertainment activities, monthly support groups, counseling and tutoring, educational resources and financial assistance.

In addition, the Hoefflin Foundation presents families with a “Kare Kit” with practical items needed for a hospital stay; college scholarships for survivors, family and grief counseling, memorial gifts to offset end of life expenses and support for research and clinical trials seeking a cure.

“I hope people know how grateful we are for their support,” said Michael’s father, Chris Hoefflin. “I hope we are a step closer to finding an end for this disease.”

For more information on the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer visit www.mhf.org, email mail@mhf.org or call 661-250-4100.