There were sightings of vampires, Southern belles, oompa loompas, wizards, witches,  mental patients, rock ’n’ roll legends, chefs, cowboys and mafia kingpins at the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Feb. 25 as the annual Celebrity Waiter costume party fundraiser set new records.

The event grossed $116,000 to benefit the home-delivered meals and other programs of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, said Kathy Crone, executive director of the SCV Senior Center Foundation.

“This was amazing,” said Crone. “We surpassed last year’s numbers and had more waiters, most of them new, and five new sponsors. In these economic times this is really good. This makes me really believe that this community is rallying to help our seniors and that is music to our ears.”

Among those attending the event was City Councilman Bob Kellar, who has chaired the event for many years.

He was called upon to assist with the raffle drawings during the event.

“The work  the Senior Center does is very important,” Kellar said. “I want to thank everyone for coming out and doing what is right for our seniors.”

Presenting sponsor of the event was the Princess Cruises Community Foundation.

“What could be more important than taking care of seniors?” said Julie Benson, vice president public relations for Princess Cruises.”

Event chairwoman Jill Bondy said the event broke records. “We had a fabulous event,” she said. “

Nearly 300 guests attended the event that carried the theme “Passages in Time.”

“We’re very happy to be here to support the Senior Center,” said Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Laurene Weste. “It’s one of the wonderful places in the Santa Clarita Valley.”

Tables were elaborately decorated, and guests dressed up to reflect a theme based on famous literature.

Other “celebrity waiters” included: Amber Schwinn, Andrea Nelson, Scott Hounsell, Carrie Stewart, David Gott, Eileen Cox, Flo Lawrence, Flossy Vander Horck, Gail Pinsker, Jennifer Hartnett, Johnny Schwinn, Kirk Stinson, Laura Kirchoff, Marsha McLean, Mike Peluso, Michel Delcross, Mike Peluso, Mikee Schwinn, “O” Michael Ovington, Paul de la Cerda, Rob Challinor, Sam Price, Susan Reynolds, Tracy Hauser and Tricia Browne-Miller.

The celebrity waiters earned money to benefit the Senior Center during the evening by selling silverware and drink service for tips of script.

Winner of the Waiter of the Year award was Mike Peluso. He raised the most money from his table during the evening.

“Thank you for Wayne and Dianne Crawford for helping me win,” Peluso said. “I’m so happy to be a part of this.”

Celebrity host of the evening was Atticus Shaffer of Acton. Shaffer plays Brick Heck  on the ABC sitcom “The Middle.”

“As a history buff, I know how valuable the lives of our seniors are,” he said. “It is an honor to be here tonight to share time with all of you who are helping seniors.”

In addition to raffles and waiter script collections, a live auction was held that featured vacations and other unique items.

The SCV Senior Center is managed by the SCV Committee on Aging. The Senior Center serves 10,000 seniors in the SCV.

Celebrity Waiter sponsors and themes:

Princess Cruises Community Foundation: 50 Essential Experiences

Comfort Keepers in Home Care/Summerhill Villa: Harry Potter

Union Bank: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Don and Peggy Wolf: Lonesome Dove

The Signal:  Harry Potter

Spirit: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Poole & Schaffery Law Firm: Gone with the Wind

Facey Medical:  Great Gatsby

Castaic Senior Apts/Canyon Country Senior Apts: Twilight

Lockheed Federal Credit Union: Godfather

Schwartz Oil: Count of Monte Cristo

So. Cal. Edison: Rock & Roll Legends

United Heath: Shakespeare

College of the Canyons: Betty Crocker

Bondy Family: Alice Through the Looking Glass

SCV Senior Center Foundation: Harlequin Romance

Wm. S. Hart School District: A Lighter of Flames (William S. Hart)

SCV Committee on Aging: Valley of the Dolls

City of Santa Clarita: American Legends

Bondy Services: SCV Senior Center Writer’s Guild

The Magazine of Santa Clarita: Wild, Wild West

The Senior Center provides programs, including more than 81,000 meals delivered to homebound seniors, more than 55,000 meals served at three SCV locations, respite services, transportation services, handyworker services and other supportive services. The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall.  (661) 259-9444. For more information about the programs and services of the SCV Senior Center visit www.scvsc.org.