As elegant ball gowns and crisp tuxedos flutter around the floor, one more child is given hope in the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s mission to help end child abuse and neglect. On March 17, the organization’s 26th annual Puttin’ on the Ritz gala promises an evening of dancing, drinks, desserts—and most importantly, a focus on supporting the cause that changes the lives of 7,500 children each year in the Mid-Florida area.
This year, the gala presents an “Evening on the Emerald Isle,” at the Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College, bringing the luck of the Irish to this highly anticipated night. “Lucky-tinis” and an array of Irish beers and coffees will add to the theme, picked to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. Members of the Santa Fe Performing Arts Center will provide authentic Irish-themed musical entertainment with Irish dancers.
Around 20 local restaurants, including Gainesville favorites like Dragonfly, Embers and Manuel’s Vintage Room, will provide food for the event. Co-chair Ashley Banks said that while the Irish theme will permeate the night, a variety of foods will be served. “There won’t be just a bunch of cabbage, potatoes and corned beef,” she insisted.
The Silent Auction complements the gala in raising funds for the Children’s Home Society of Florida. Each year, participants bid on hundreds of donated items throughout the evening. “We encourage people to donate unique and creative items,” said Jennifer Anchors, executive director of the Mid-Florida Children’s Home Society of Florida. In past years, big-ticket items, such as tropical getaways to Mexico and Florida beaches and signed Gator paraphernalia, have been among the array of donations.
Along with ticket sales and silent auction proceeds, sponsors provide cash donations for the cause. Sponsorships range from local citizens and businesses to large companies, each continuing to make the event successful with yearly donations.
As the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s largest fundraiser, the gala is put together annually by the Children’s Home Society Gainesville Auxiliary, a group of women dedicated to fundraising and advocating for the organization. Five-year auxiliary veterans Donna Carroll and Ashley Banks are the co-chairs of this year’s event.
“The Auxiliary was ‘born of a need’ to help children, because money to meet the needs of ‘vulnerable’ children had become more urgent,” Carroll said. “Over the years, the purpose of the Auxiliary has remained: to raise money for Children’s Home Society of Florida, become advocates for child abuse issues and to provide direct volunteer service.”
From the small group who established the organization so long ago, Auxiliary membership has grown to include 50-plus members. These members collectively volunteer more than 1,000 hours every year with the mission of promoting voluntarism and improving the Gainesville community through effective action and leadership. Currently, one of their biggest projects is the Family Treasures Thrift Shop, located at 710 North Main St. in Gainesville. Anchors said the thrift shop not only provides families in poverty with needed items but also raises funds for programs, allowing the organization to continue to provide successful and innovative services.
While the volunteers’ dedicated efforts exude year round, their signature and most successful event continues to be the gala. The event alone raises around $100,000 annually and provides the Children’s Home Society of Florida with vital funding.
“Every year I always have a great night with friends,” Banks said. “However, it wasn’t until this year, when I became the co-chair, that I realized how much of an impact this event has on helping children in our community. According to the Child Welfare System, 85 percent of children reported as victims of abuse, neglect or abandonment experience a change in caregiver by their second birthday. These moves are stressful and have been associated with oppositional, aggressive behaviors and lessened inhibitory control in children.
“Children’s Home Society of Florida looks to remove risk factors within a child’s home so that the child will not need to be removed. By supplying the resources and support to build a safer home, Children’s Home Society of Florida looks to improve living conditions and parental bonds so that families can offer their children better futures. I am excited to be part of this change. I can only hope that more and more of the community will begin to take action.”