Center board chair Karen Eller (center) listens to Linda Palmer (left) and Carol Hirst before the evening moved indoors. (Philip Groshong photo)

At the Center for Children and Families' second annual Step Up to the Plate, guests at the Great American Ballpark had the opportunity to experience baseball like the Reds players.

Some of the 100 guests took batting practice and ran the bases before enjoying cocktails in the exclusive Diamond Club and dinner in the members-only Riverfront Club.

There also were silent and live auctions.

Center CEO Tom Palmer presented this year's "Most Valuable Partner" Awards to Alton Frailey, Cincinnati Public Schools superintendent, and Martha Kamrani, Aiken High School intervention specialist. Speaker was Enquirer sports columnist Paul Daugherty.

The evening raised $16,000 to support the services of the center, a safety net for children and families of Hamilton County for more than 30 years.

Among its services is helping those who might not otherwise have access to health care.