Wouldn't it be great to spend New Year's Eve at a piano bar, or maybe rock it out with a live band or DJ, dance until midnight and watch the ball drop with all your friends, without having to go all the way to San Francisco?

This year you can.

This New Year's Eve, Stoneridge Shopping Center will be transformed into a party destination, featuring live music, ten bars, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight after the giant glittering ball drops. Best of all your fun night out gives back to the community.

Profits from the event will go back to four Tri-Valley community organizations, Axis Community Health, School of Imagination & Happy Talkers, Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) and Pleasanton Partners in Education (PPIE). The beneficiaries were named by Pleasanton North Rotary, organizers of the event, with the objective to support children and families in the Tri-Valley community.

Pleasanton North Rotary has already raised over $2 million for local charities but  
Bill Wheeler, C.E.O. of Black Tie Transportation and Pleasanton North Rotary board member, said "The Rotary board was looking for opportunities to raise more money, and this idea had been around for a few years but to make it feasible they needed funding and bodies."

Mitch Sigman, Pleasanton North Rotary board member and co-founder of School of Imagination & Happy Talkers says, "we had the concept from Axis, a strong community partner, but Bill makes things happen, he always finds a way where it counts."

The initial idea for the Ball came from remembering Stoneridge Mall's opening ceremony back in 1980.

Barbara Lewis, Marketing Consultant with Axis says, "when it first opened there were bands in the mall and there was a very dressy pre-grand opening private event."

Back then, the mall was owned by a different company, there was no guarantee that the new owners, Simon Properties Inc., would be so accommodating.

Carrie Williams, Director of Marketing and Business Development, at Stoneridge Mall was very receptive.

Lewis says, "Carrie is very can do. Everything we asked for she'd say, I can't imagine why not! Then Pleasanton North Rotary stepped up and that's how it really happened."

With funding and good will from businesses and non-profits in the community the idea became a reality. Simon Properties Inc. donated the use of the mall, Men's Warehouse donated the half million-dollar stage set and Tri-Valley Visitor's Convention Center and Diablo Magazine helped market the event. Every company involved gave something back. Bill Wheeler calls it 'sweat equity,' the community coming together to help raise as much money as possible.

With the budget crisis cutting funding in education and health, funds are needed to cover just the basics.

Debi Covello, Executive Director of Pleasanton partners in Education (PPIE) says, "the money raised will support the student grant fund and the bigger education grant fund for teachers and faculty." This support will help supplement the budget cuts where the district most needs it.

In Dublin the schools are also hurting despite the successful passing of an education parcel tax. Janet Lockhart, from Dublin Partners in Education (DPIE) says, "although we passed the parcel tax and were able to rebuild and renovate some for our school buildings, we haven't been able to supply them with all the resources."

Lockhar says the funds raised will go to help supply science materials for the new but empty lab at Valley High, as well as supplying food and materials for the survival and healthy eating program.

"This really is the region all coming together to support the needs of our children," she says. "We can't do it alone anymore."

Donations raised for The School of Imagination & Happy Talkers, will help fund opportunities for enrichment and support for local families, such as: Individual Speech-Language & Occupational Therapy, Social Skills groups, and Family Guidance. As well as supporting the preschool, which provides typically developing and special needs children the opportunity to learn and grow together.

For Axis the extra funds will mean the ability to help more struggling families with their health care.

"We'll be able to add more pediatrician clinics at the weekends and evenings to provide services like sports physicals for young people who can't afford to pay for them, immunizations for children starting school, and baby well check ups," says Barbara Lewis, spokesperson for Axis."We'll be able to provide more services for the kids."

The Ball at the Mall kicks off at 9 p.m. and finishes at 1 a.m. Black Tie Transportation has special packages for the night if you want to arrive and depart with your friends in style, such as a Town car for five hours from $199.

Local hotels have special deals, just mention the Ball at the Mall when you book, and for every room booked they are donating dollars straight to the cause. And for parents, there is even a babysitting service, which will help you find a great sitter.

Sigman says, "we want to remove all the obstacles to you coming out and having a great time."

Tickets are $75 or $100 for VIP, which includes access to the VIP lounge, table service and passed hors d'oeuvres. Entering by the Cheesecake Factory (as long as you are 21+ bring your ID), there will be ten no host bars, dancing to the live band Afrodisiacs, a DJ spinning and a sophisticated piano bar.

Delicious hors d'oeuvres and and a commemorative champagne glass will be available for the countdown to the New Year, . 

Tickets are available at www.theballatthemall.org. Remember to state which of the four organizations you'd like to support.