New Philadelphia, Ohio - Personal & Family Counseling Services is asking the community to help them make their 10th annual Masquerade Ball fundraiser another big success.

PFCS Assistant Director Jamie Smith says they’re looking for gift cards to use as drawing prizes during the event that’s being held on the evening of January 19th at Union Country Club.

“[It’s] really an elegant event. We pair it with a three-course meal, some entertainment where people can dance but we also have a silent auction, a live auction, and then what we call the jackpot drawing. The jackpot drawing is where we take gift certificates, we put them in an envelope and people pay $20 and we hand them an envelope, so it’s kind of a surprise what they get,” she says.

Smith says they’ll take any gift card valued at $25 or more, and they’re also looking for items to put into the auctions.

“We’re also looking for silent auction baskets. They can be of a value of $70 or higher, or a live auction [item] which is something of value that could be over $750 that we would have our guest auctioneer get our audience to bid that up to raise more money,” she says.

Smith says the proceeds from the event will help fund a variety of programs that support individuals and families in the local community. 

“Personal & Family Counseling Services has so many programs that I don’t think our community is really aware of,” she says. “Some of the few programs that it will benefit are Harbor House and Harbor Point domestic violence shelters, Harbor House here in New Philadelphia and Harbor Point in Carrollton. We also have men’s sober living housing. We have the Help Me Grow Program which serves [ages] 0 to 3, both in-home visiting and early intervention. We have Takin’ It to the Schools, which is a prevention program that is in both Tuscarawas and Carroll counties.”

Smith says last year’s Masquerade Ball raised $27,000, and they’re hoping to match or beat that amount this year.

“I would love to raise at least $27,000 if not more because all dollars go back into programs that we can’t funds to help us pay for what we need,” she says.

Donations can be dropped off through January 11th at the PFCS office at 1433 5th St. NW in New Philadelphia, and people can also call Smith to schedule a pickup. She can be reached by phone at 330-343-8171, ext. 263, or by email at jsmith@pfcs1.org. Tickets are also on sale for the event are can be purchased online at www.personal-family-counseling.org.

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV