By Kristin Bednarski
Sun staff

CASA for Clermont Kids will be hosting its annual spring charity gala April 26 at Receptions in Eastgate.

Amanda List, executive director of CASA for Clermont Kids, said the event will raise money for the program, which serves abused and neglected children in the Clermont County court system.

List said the event will feature dinner, a live and silent auction, a guest speaker, and other activities.

“It’s a lot of fun,” List said about the event. “It’s a good time to come see some of the people who are out in the county, have a glass of wine, walk around and support a good cause.”

List said a new activity they are having this year is a wine pull, where guests can draw for a bottle of wine ranging from $5 to more than $50.

“It’s a game of chance but everyone walks away with something,” List said.

She said they already have a variety of items for the auction including a trip to Nashville, a weekend in Colorado, Cincinnati Reds tickets, Ohio State University tickets, and more.

“There is something for everyone,” List said. “From kids, to girls nights, to family packages.”

List said they are also doing electronic bidding this year and auction items will be available for viewing ahead of time online.

List said Bonnie Bazil-Davis will be the guest speaker at the event.

“She is going to talk about her childhood history of abuse and how she overcame that,” List said.

List said they had a phenomenal event last year and raised nearly half of their operating budget. She said the event is very important for funding CASA.

“We run a really lean ship,” List said. “The money that comes in goes to being able to recruit and train those Guardian ad Litems so they can be able to go advocate for the children.”

List said the children CASA serves are the children on the dependancy docket in the Clermont County court system, which often includes abused or neglected children.

“We’re the voice of the child in the courtroom,” List said. “We always let the court know what the child’s wishes are and balance that with what is in the child’s best interest.”

For more information about CASA for Clermont Kids or to purchase tickets to the spring charity benefit, visit www.casaforclermontkids.com, or call (513) 732-7160.