Sweet occasion
11th annual CCFCC Sunday Dessert Social another success
Well over 200 people attended the 11th annual Sunday Social for the Shelter fundraiser hosted by Central California Family Crisis Center at Grand Avenue Methodist Church in Porterville on Sunday, September 9.
The highlight of the evening was an extravagant dessert auction held after dinner, presided over by auctioneer Gary Gostanian. There were also drawings for prizes, and the Porterville String Quartet played during dinner.
Executive Director Toni Dumont said the social is the CCFCC’S signature event for the year, and it is just like a Sunday dinner, but when the dessert auction starts, “that’s when the fun begins.”
Dennis and Cece Townsend enjoyed the evening, and Dennis said it seemed like the whole community was at the fundraiser. With a chuckle he said, “I’m going to sacrifice myself and buy a dessert for the cause.”
City Council member Martha Flores spoke about serving as a board member for CCFCC in the early 90’s when it was the Porterville Mission Project, and said she would always support the women’s shelter and serving victims of domestic violence living in the com-
munity. “I’ve watched the CCFCC blossom,” she said.
Nicki Edwards, wellknown photographer and business owner, said the Family Crisis Center is so needed in Porterville, and “they do such a good job aiding families in distress.”
Special guests for the evening included Tulare County Assessor Roland P. Hill, Tulare County Supervisor Elect Dennis Townsend, Porterville Mayor Milt Stowe, Vice-mayor Brian Ward, City Council members
Martha Flores and Cam Hamilton, and Anthony Maldonado and Brian Albertoni from CASA.
Board President Mickie Manning welcomed everyone to the afternoon gala and introduced the CCFCC board members, saying, “They are such a terrific board.”
The board members are Janice Castle, Robert Dempsey, Debbie Estrada, Robert Krase, Sharon Fusco, Karen Vanni, Judi Kaiser, Donna Keeley, Richard Osborne, Denise Jordan and John Lollis.
She thanked the members who helped organize the dinner and dessert auction, and introduced Executive Director Toni Dumont, who began at the crisis center in January.
Manning then introduced Porterville Mayor Milt Stowe who gave the invocation, thanking God and praying for the victims of domestic abuse.
He said, “I’m so glad to be here.”
After dinner was served, Manning spoke about the CCFCC, and said thousands and thousands of people, mostly women and children, have benefited from what founder Mary Baker started, and introduced Baker’s daughters Karin and Linn Wisemann and Francie Depaoli.
The center has evolved in its 40 plus years, and has made a huge impact for the better on people in the community.
She thanked their modern guardian angel Pegge Wall, who has been generous and supportive of the agency for years, and spoke about the centerpieces handmade by women in the shelter that were so special and empowering with their artistic expression and feeling.
She said the women just came alive with the project. One woman used positive quotations from Einstein in her centerpiece.
“It’s a wonderful event and supports such an outstanding cause,” said John Giffords.
Board members made desserts or donated gorgeous extravagant cakes, cheesecakes, pies, crème
brulees, fruit tarts, cupcakes and homemade ice creams for the dessert auction.
Gary Gostanian auctioned off the desserts with humor and style, getting laughs from the crowd and making the auction fun.
Bidding started at $100 for each of the homemade desserts.
He started by thanking everyone for being at the dinner gala and dessert auction, but also thanked and acknowledged all the veterans in the room.
Gostanian remarked the shelter and CCFCC also accommodates men in crisis.
As an auctioneer, he was having a lively conversation with people in
the audience, and asked a question of a spotter. He said, “I love it when you ask me a question (he’s talking to a man) and two women answer!”
The spectacular desserts were auctioned off for large donations from a very enthusiastic crowd. The fundraiser was extremely successful and the community should be extremely proud.
Dumont said she moved to the Porterville area at the beginning of the year and something that helped make her decision to move and join CCFCC was the generosity of the community support, “Which was very evident tonight.”