Local charity Party With Purpose raised almost $20,000 Thursday night at the W Hotel during its third annual winter benefit party. More than 275 people attended, filling the Chandelier Room to capacity.

The volunteer staffed group has donated over $350,000 to various community groups during its ten-year existence. The party last night highlighted all of the groups that received money from Party With Purpose during the past year, including the Jubilee Center, the Boys & Girls Club and TRUE Mentors among others.

“The money that Party With Purpose gave us helped us hold 35 classes for over 80 children in our program,” TRUE Mentors executive director Susi Tully said.

In addition to honoring its 2011 recipients, Party With Purpose will donate proceeds from ticket sales to the party to victims of the fire that destroyed 300 Washington Street.

Board member Jillian Dodge said the group wanted to contribute. She knows some of the displaced tenants.

“It's a really scary experience that hits home,” Dodge said. “It could be any building, so it's important that we come together in times like this.”

Party With Purpose founder Scott Delea concurred. “This is an opportunity for us to give back in real time. It's nice we can do that and see the money at work.”

A few of the fire victims attended the party, if only just to express gratitude.

“It's hard to take rather than give when someone is doing something for us, but we just wanted to come and say thank you,” said Tiffany Shenman. Shenman and her boyfriend Fred Volze lost their fourth floor condo.

The party featured several special guests, including four-time national boxing champion Eric Kelly, Skeery Jones and Loren Raye from the Z100 morning show, radio personality John Bell, and Hoboken residents Jennifer Iserloh, author of Secrets of a Skinny Chef, and Big Brother contestant Adam Poch.

During the halfway point of the three hour event guests turned their attention to a cordoned area to watch the Burlesque Bikini Bootcamp company perform several songs. Many of the performers wore playful, if risque costumes. The diversion ended with a surprise performance by male Party With Purpose board members who danced a group strip which ended with them revealing Party With Purpose themed boxer shorts. Many guests hooted at the sight.