Dolphin Ball attendees bid in styleA The 10th annual Dolphin Ball raised more than $170,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

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The 10th Annual Dolphin Ball with a black-tie theme raised more than $170,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Guy W. Kitchens / TMT

The 10th Annual Dolphin Ball to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation played out under a perfect September evening sky Saturday. Dazzling lights, balmy breezes, classic jazz and tables loaded with silent auction donations greeted guests on the spacious tennis courts of the estate belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Don Schrock.

In celebration of its decade of success, the theme of this year’s ball dictated black-tie attire, and Malibu’s donors rose to the occasion. Floor skimming, beaded gowns and sleek tuxes were the order of the evening, and the signature cocktail for the evening was a bubbling, smoky, effervescence green “Dolphin-tini,” adding a unique glow to the event.

The Dolphin Ball raises research and educational funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and is usually diagnosed in young children who, until a few years ago, were not expected to live past adolescence.

A considerable portion of the evening’s financial success comes from the silent auction, and guests are encouraged to bid high for items ranging from docent-guided hikes through Solstice Canyon wildflower fields to gift boxes of Napa Valley wines to basketballs signed by Shaquille O’Neal. Malibu resident Lori Sandel bid on a tour and dinner at the local fire station.

“I bid on this because I think my girls will have a great time,” she said. “And they’ll understand how hard these people work for us.”

A Marilyn Monroe print from the Milton H. Greene collection, valued at $5,000, was seeing some heavy bidding action and the furs from Dicker & Dicker of Beverly Hills saw a cluster of women surrounding the racks. Janice Murawski-Payne stroked a full-length, grey chinchilla.

“It’s a stunningly beautiful coat,” she said wistfully. “But I don’t know if I can bid on it tonight. Where’s my husband?”

Tena Fanning, president of Playdate Kids Publishing, bid on a dinner for 10 to be prepared at the winner’s home by a famous Australian chef, and bids for trips to Italy, Thailand and Switzerland were jealously guarded.

Exhausted from their shopping efforts, guests retired to the huge white tent adjacent to the tennis courts and prepared to refresh themselves with a three-course meal. Lenny Goldsmith, lead singer of the legendary ’80s R&B group, Tower of Power, and his band provided music and the dance floor did not go un-trod for long.

Actresses Jacklyn Zeman and Tracey Bregman-Recht handled ceremonial duties and reminded guests that 91 percent of their donations went directly to research and education through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“It is amazing to see this sense of community and sense of togetherness Malibu residents have,” Zeman said. “You have no idea how much good your generosity does.”

To underscore the success of that beneficence, 20-year-old Katelyn Salmont spoke movingly of her journey with cystic fibrosis. Salmont was diagnosed with the disease at age two and doctors told her parents she might not live to see 16 years. Determined that those years would be as fulfilling as possible, her parents saw to it that Salmont’s daily medical routine was balanced with skiing, riding and water sports. By age 17, however, the disease had taken its toll and Salmont faced a life-saving lung transplant, with lobes donated by her father and her close friend, Kathy Oswald. Today, she is a tiny, but fiery young woman who lives life fully.

“Whereever I went, I had to pack up CF and take it with me,” Salmont said. “CF formed me and helped me grow into the person I am today. When I breathe with my new lungs, it almost feels like cheating!”

Her voice trembled with emotion as she went on to describe a 19-year-old friend, who also struggles with the disease.

“You cannot breathe in and out fully. I myself felt the same way not too long ago. Thanks to you, I can now breathe.”

She blushed at the standing ovation she received.

The live auction raised the noise a bit as auctioneers encouraged bidders to go for such prizes as tickets to the 2006 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas (final bid: $4,400), a trip to the final taping of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” (final bid: $3,700), a celebrity ski vacation in Vail (final bid: $7,500), tickets to a home Miami Heat game as guests of coach Pat Riley (final bid: $11,500) and a Mexican vacation at a private villa, complete with cook, maid and houseman (final bid: $13,500).

Altogether, this year’s Dolphin Ball raised more than $170,000, organizer Mary Hughes O’Leary reported.

A final $1,000 was raised by Katelyn Salmont, who offered to dance with the winning bidder “for as long as he wants.”