If other local charitable and cultural fund-raisers could attract even half the crowd the Margarita Society Ball draws, none of them would ever have to worry about paying their bills. Nearly 4,000 folks carrying 4,200 Christmas toys piled into the Peabody Hotel Saturday to make the fourth annual Margarita Ball the most successful ever.

The 28,000-square-foot ballroom -- donated along with tables full of hors d'oeuvres by the hotel -- was filled with baby boomers wearing shimmering cocktail dresses, suits and tuxedos. A mariachi band and a rock band provided the entertainment.