More than 500 people from throughout the Tri-Valley braved the rain New Year's Eve for the First Annual Ball at the Mall fund raiser. 

Stoneridge Shopping Center was decked out for the grand event with crystal stars and glitter balls. Participants were dressed to impress—and it seemed a good time was had by all. 

Former Pleasanton Unified School Board Member Jim Ott was working the ticket exchange with his wife, Pamela Ott, Pleasanton's economic development director. 

Guests streamed to the dance floors all night. The partygoers had a choice between the rhythmic pounding of the DJ's beat, the laid-back style of the piano bar or the funky lineup of the disco cover band, the Afrodisiacs. 

Workers at the no-host bars stayed busy as groups mingled and partied into the night.

Just before midnight, the crowd was awash with white feather boas, black and white trilbies and yellow Stetsons–awards for crazy dancing from the DJ booth.

Then it was time for the countdown. The giant ball slowly dropped, the balloons were released and the crowd went wild.

Sponsored by the Pleasanton North Rotary, the event raised money for four Tri-Valley community organizations: Axis Community Health, School of Imagination & Happy Talkers, Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) and Pleasanton Partners in Education (PPIE). 

Watch how the night unfolded in our Mall at the Ball photo gallery. If you were there, try to spot yourself. If you weren't, see what you missed.