The village of Miami Shores will host its 27th annual Mayor's Benefit Ball on Saturday.

It is the municipality's only major annual fundraising event, with money raised going to events and cultural activities, area schools and local charities.

This year's ball will pay tribute to the village's past mayors.

''It will be interesting to have them reflect their time in office,'' said Alice Burch, chairman of the Mayor's Community Task Force, a nonprofit group that organizes the event.

She has been attempting to contact as many past mayors as possible in order to get them to participate.

There have been about 40 mayors in Miami Shores since 1932.

Burch said there would be a display of the mayor's photographs at the ball, and written remarks from some will be put on a page in the official event program guide.

This is the first year that the ball has its own Web site and e-mail address -- courtesy of Shawn Huntington of www.BeMyTechGuy.com.

He offered to create the site after hearing Burch talk about the event at a chamber of commerce meeting.

''The Shores has always been good to me,'' said Huntington, who was born and raised in Miami Shores.

Huntington said he is glad to help the village -- especially given concerns that a sluggish economy will keep down sales of the $125 tickets.

''Everybody takes a hit in a bad economy,'' he said.

More than $45,000 was raised last year, Burch said.

The money funded 18 grants -- including seven for schools such as Barry University, that received grants for its Intercultural Center and Science Olympiad event.

Also benefiting: a food bank, senior citizen services organizations and village events such as the Marshmallow Drop and holiday tree-lighting ceremony.

The Mayor's Benefit Ball includes a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing.

A silent auction will give guests the chance to bid on donated items such as store gift certificates, artwork, concert tickets and leaf blowers.

''If you have something that you think someone would like to have, feel free to donate it,'' Mayor Herta Holly said.

``Any kind of donation is gratefully accepted and your fellow residents are certainly going to benefit from any way that you could possibly help.''

Tickets are $125 each, or $1,250 for a table of 10.

The ball begins at 6:30 p.m. at the the Miami Shores Country Club, 10000 Biscayne Blvd.

For information, go to www.miamishoresmayorsball.com. or e-mail mayorsball2009@bellsouth.net.

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