Ooh La La! The next Las Patronas’ Jewel Ball will be manifique!

This year’s Las Patronas’ annual fundraiser, The Jewel Ball, will offer attendees all the romantic, glamorous joie de vivre of France. The La Jolla-based women’s philanthropy group unveiled the décor (and teased up some excitement for “Magnifique”) at a preview April 29 at the La Jolla Community Center.

Design co-chair Susan Barrera promised lavender fields, hot-air balloons, chandeliers, candelabras, large paper flowers, bubbly fountains and Champagne.

“We’ve taken everything we love about France — the essence of French romance — and given it our Las Patronas twist,” she said. “It will be just like being in an outdoor garden outside of a chateau.” She added there will be “a wink and a nod” to French architecture and landmarks.

Las Patronas uses ticket sales and auction proceeds from the ball to provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego. This year’s major beneficiaries are Alpha Project for the Homeless, Arc of San Diego, Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego, Living Coast Discovery Center, Mountain Health and Community Services, The Old Globe Theatre, The Preuss School–UCSD, University of San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo Global. Major beneficiaries use the grants to purchase capital items to help them achieve their missions. There are also 41 minor beneficiaries.

Last year’s Jewel Ball was cancelled due to rain, but still managed to raise $883,775, which has been distributed among 51 grant recipients. In a lemonade-from-lemons decision, the “silent auction” went online to continue to generate donations. After the success of the online auction last year, Las Patronas decided to hold an online auction for the entire month of July, leading up to the Aug. 8 Jewel Ball at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, 2000 Spindrift Drive.

To receive an invitation to Jewel Ball, send your mailing address to reservations@laspatronas.org

Ticket sales begin June 1 at laspatronas.org