More than 550 Los Angeles socialites and supporters gathered for SHARE’s 55th Anniversary Razzle Dazzle Boomtown Gala Saturday night at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Good Day L.A.’s Steve Edwards and Dorothy Lucey presented Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of “American Idol”, this year’s “Shining Spirit Award”. Lythgoe accepted “The Shining Spirit Award” Saturday evening in front of a standing ovation for the record $130 million he has helped raise with “Idol Gives Back”.

While he was incredibly gracious of the award, he also pointed out that the $130 million he raised came from around the world and thus praised the SHARE ladies for raising over $44 million in the Southern California region alone. Lythgoe is a three time Emmy Award Nominee for Outstanding Reality/Competition Program and has been the creative mind behind top reality shows such as “So You Think You Can Dance” and Britain’s “Pop Idol”. 

SHARE, Inc.’s biggest fund raising event of the year featured a live and silent auction, sit-down dinner, and a fabulous show which featured Clint Holmes (Voted Best all-around Entertainer in Las Vegas), Jay Johnson (2007 Tony Award Winner), dancers from ABC’s hit dance show “So You Think You Can Dance”, and the lovely dancing SHARE Ladies.

Celebrity guests included Loni Anderson and her son Quentin Reynolds, Laura San Giacomo, Robert Culp, Jack Jones, Ruta Lee, Cesar Millan the Dog Whisperer, Jodie Sweetin of Full House and Yes Dear, and Latin TV Star Guillermo Huesca (Univision’s “Hecto Tracto”). Together these L.A. celebrities and socialites were able to raise $1 million through the Razzle Dazzle Boomtown Gala alone.

KNBC’s Fritz Coleman led a very animated live auction where a full bred, miniature poodle stole the show with the top bidder paying $8,000, and was later named “Ruta”. SHARE President Dolores Nemiro presented Esther Rosenfield with the “Member of the Year Award, and 21 SHARE members performed a scintillating dance montage featuring Rumba and Tango directed and choreographed by Nancy Gregory, and produced by Gary Smith. This year the SHARE ladies wore brand new red and black vests with black studded or black velvet Not Your Daughter’s Jeans courtesy of George Rudes of NYDJ.

SHARE, Inc. is a non-profit philanthropic organization composed of women who are avidly committed to raising funds for the developmental disabled, abused, and neglected children as well as medical research for all forms of developmental disabilities. Founded in 1953 with only 7 women, 55 years and over $44 million later, there are now 97 women still committed as ever to their cause. For over 50 years SHARE has continually involved the most influential people in Hollywood. Through such support they have been able to assist many facilities each year including The Exceptional Children’s Foundation, The Kayne Eras Center, The Center for the Partially Sighted, and many more. SHARE’s motto has always been “SHARE Happily and Reap Endlessly!” and for over 55 years the SHARE ladies have done just that. For more information about SHARE visit www.share4children.org.