Pearls and Possibilities set for Saturday to benefit Liberty House

ALBANY — The 6th annual Pearls and Possibilities gala to benefit Liberty House of Albany has generated a significant amount of community support for the organization’s mission of combating domestic violence.

The gala will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn at 101 S. Front St. beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday. It will include much of the same components as previous events, such as live bands, silent and live auctions, and dinner and drinks.

The musical entertainment will be provided by Relapse and JT & the YoYos. The event will begin with a social hour. Dinner is set to start at 7 p.m.

Liberty House Executive Director Diane Rogers said there are more than 100 auction items in all, including weekend travel packages, tailgating items, sports memorabilia, home decor, gift certificates, golf packages and pottery crafted by children served through the organization.

“If you can think of it, we probably have it,” Rogers said. “Our board members (and staff) have been working really hard at getting the majority of these.”

Thirty-four sponsors have signed on to support Pearls and Possibilities, which Rogers said is the most the event has ever had. Few of the businesses approached about sponsorship have denied the opportunity, she said, and some of the sponsorships have come without solicitation.

Such support inspires confidence about the momentum the fundraiser will fuel for Liberty House’s cause.

“I do feel good about it,” Rogers said. “I am very excited. There are a lot of things that have to be done last minute, but we are very excited about it. We are very excited about the response from the community.”

This year’s event will be the first since Rogers took charge of the organization upon the retirement of Silke Deeley in June.

The benefit comes during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, for which Liberty House has so far hosted a butterfly release and vigil, a domestic violence educational luncheon and a self-defense class. The month will wrap up with a dating violence maze at the Albany State University East Student Center on Oct. 27 for ASU’s students.

The Liberty House fundraiser also comes as leaders in the Albany area are planning the foundations of a task force devoted to ending domestic violence, which Rogers said last week has been meeting regularly over the last few months.

The proceeds from Pearls and Possibilities will match funding from grants Liberty House applies for in order to serve domestic violence victims. Rogers said she would like to see $25,000-$30,000 raised and that a positive outcome will rely on supporters’ attendance.

“This is an opportunity to have an event in the community where others can see what we are doing,” the executive director said. “This event is a fun event that you can come and enjoy.”

Rogers said the event is expected to include a speaker, who will talk about her experience with domestic violence and a brief slideshow giving an overview of Liberty House’s services.

Tickets, which are being sold in advance and at the door, are $50 per person. For more information, call (229) 439-7094 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.

More information on the organization can be found at www.libertyhouseofalbany.com.