Face time: PACER makers

In its 27th year, the annual PACER Center benefit is one of the biggest parties, but it's all about where the money goes -- to help disabled kids.

"We are trying to help as many children with disabilities as possible. Our goal is to raise money to launch our bullying prevention site for teenagers," said Paula Goldberg, the organization's executive director.

The cocktail crowd had lots of opportunities to contribute. They could bid on items in the silent auction, which were listed in a catalog as thick as an issue of Reader's Digest, or participate in the live auction. Auctioneer Karen Sorbo coaxed more than $100,000 out of the audience on items such as a white Mercedes SLK 300 convertible and a trip to Los Angeles with tickets to see tapings of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Two and a Half Men."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a former PACER board member, was in attendance. "My daughter couldn't swallow for the first year and half. I lived this life, the PACER life," she said. Her daughter Abigail fully recovered and will soon be graduating from eighth grade.

The main show involved a couple of "Frankie V's" -- WCCO's Frank Vascellaro and his wife, Amelia Santaniello, emceed the event, while Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons provided the retro soundtrack, which included "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and "Big Girls Don't Cry."

From raising awareness about disabled children to the foot-tapping music of those tunes, the event was definitely on key.

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177