The second edition of “There’s No Place Like Home,” the gala presented by Coker Law on April 13 to benefit the 4th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, raised about $130,000 that will be used to help abandoned, abused and neglected children that have entered the dependency court system in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.
That’s more than twice the amount donated at the inaugural event in November 2016.
“It will allow us to send more of the kids to camp this summer and let them have more activities,” said Heather Solanka, president of the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Florida’s First Coast and an attorney at Camerlengo & Anderson.
The gala proceeds more than triple the foundation’s ability to help children compared to last year.
That will allow the foundation to more quickly meet the basic needs of more children, such as when a child breaks their eyeglasses and needs a replacement, she added.
“In the past, we would go to the agencies that work with us to pay for the glasses. We appreciate the help from Daniel, Family Support Services, Neighbor to Neighbor and Children’s Home Society, but it can take a long time.”
It was 18 months between the inaugural gala and the second.
Solanka said the board is considering whether to adopt the same interval when planning the third gala now that the event has proven to be a consistent success.
One consideration is the logistics involved in transforming the atrium at the Duval County Courthouse into a theme-decorated ballroom for the evening.
That involves keeping the building secured and open past traditional court hours and inviting a couple hundred guests for hors d’oeuvres, dancing, live and silent auctions and tours guided by judges.
“Twelve months is too soon and we’re concerned that 24 months might be too long. Hopefully, this will hold us over for 18 months,” said Solanka.
A portion of the funds raised, along with a $20,000 lead donation from the Pajcic & Pajcic law firm for the 2018 “I am for the Child” giving campaign, will be used to recruit and train more volunteers to serve as advocates for dependent children’s best interests in the courtroom.
Nearly 50 volunteers joined the program in 2018, which serves about 700 of more than 1,200 children with cases open in Northeast Florida dependency courts.
Visit galfirstcoast.org for volunteer information.