TICKETS ON SALE FOR “CELEBRATING CHARLOTTE”

HOSTED BY VALERIE’S HOUSE

Sponsors announced for July 30 event

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA., July 12, 2022 – Tickets are now on sale for “Celebrating Charlotte,” the first-ever fund-raising event hosted by Valerie’s House to support Charlotte County children grieving the loss of loved ones.

“Celebrating Charlotte: Celebrating What Makes This Home” is the theme of the fund-raiser planned at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 30.

General admission tickets are $25 with children under 12 admitted free with one paying adult.  VIP tickets are $35 each and entitle the purchaser to shop one hour before the doors officially open.  Tickets can be purchased at www.valerieshouse.org/events

“We are so pleased with how the community is embracing our first-ever fund-raising event in Charlotte County,” said Christine Carey, director of the Charlotte County Valerie’s House.  “We have some wonderful sponsors who are joining us in celebrating Charlotte and what makes this such a wonderful place to live.”

Burnt Store Title of SWFL has signed on as the presenting sponsor.  Other sponsors are Dillard’s, Aloia│Roland Attorneys at Law, Millennium Physician Group, State Farm-Mike Martin, and Sun News Media.

Other sponsorships are available from $3,000 to $5,000 by contacting Carey at 239-841-0382 or emailing her at [email protected]

Organizers are planning a day of food samples from some of Charlotte County’s best restaurants, select local brewery tastings, fashion and shopping in the marketplace for unique creations and hand-made items.

Dillard’s will present a fashion show and provide mini make-up makeovers.

“We’re also looking for vendors who want to showcase their products.  Specifically, we are encouraging restaurants, breweries, crafts, salons, home good stores, women’s clothing stores and more to get involved,” Carey said.

Vendor space is available for $125 or $75 plus a donated auction basket.  A 50/50 drawing also will be conducted.

All funds raised at the event will be used to support programming costs of Valerie’s House in Charlotte County, including materials for group nights and school groups, staff for group nights, counseling services, legal, financial and food assistance for grieving children and families. All services are offered free of charge to grieving families.

Valerie’s House, which is headquartered in Fort Myers, has provided grief support services to 245 Charlotte County children and 76 caregivers since its opening in Charlotte County in 2019.  Grief support groups are offered at 1st United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte with additional services offered at the Family Services Center in Port Charlotte.

Valerie’s House was founded in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose own mother was killed in a car accident in 1987, and has expanded to include locations in Fort Myers and Naples as well as Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House is fully supported by community donations.

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier, counties as well as the Florida panhandle. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has five locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples, and grief support groups meetings at 1st United Methodist Church at 507 West Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2565 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibralter Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org