BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON -- Roy and JoAnn Yelton's precious gems and gold will be used again this year to serve a valuable community need.
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How to donate
Donations to help pay for this year's Diamond and Gold Gala can be made by calling Family Services at 867-7545, ext. 235. Local sponsors so far include First National Bank of Southwestern Ohio and Mantandy Steel of Hamilton. |
The couple, owners of Yelton's Fine Jewelry at 25 N. F St. downtown, recently announced they will donate $30,000 worth of jewelry to Family Services Inc. of Hamilton, a non-profit social service agency.
Family Services, in turn, will raffle and auction the jewelry at its third annual Diamond and Gold Gala Dec. 4.
"I've never seen an organization that does so much for so many people," Mr. Yelton said. "This is our way of telling the community that we appreciate what Family Services is doing."
The Yeltons donated $12,000 worth of jewelry for the first Diamond and Gold Gala in 1996. Last year, they gave Family Services $20,000 worth of jewels for the event.
Family Services recently honored the Yeltons by naming two new child therapy rooms after them.
The child therapy rooms and staff are being funded with proceeds from last year's Diamond and Gold Gala. Family Services raised $26,000 at the gala. After expenses, the agency was left with $20,000.
Elaine Hemmelgarn, director of marketing and development for Family Services, said the gala and other special events help pay for agency needs that are not within its budget.
Proceeds from this year's gala will buy a van to transport family home-care workers to clients' homes.
A golf outing in July will benefit the agency's consumer credit counseling division. Ms. Hemmelgarn said the money will be used to automate the division, which will allow it to serve more clients. Family Services, with offices in Hamilton and Middletown, gets its funding from county, state and federal governments, private donations and United Way.
Last year, the agency served more than 4,000 families and anticipates a 15 percent to 20 percent need growth this year.
Family Services helps people with physical, financial and mental health needs. Its services include family home care, clinical counseling, group therapy and consumer credit counseling.
