 The Kids First Center is a non-profit agency whose mission is to support families who are experiencing the life-altering transitions associated with separation and divorce. The annual Gala and Auction is coming up later this month, and Arthur Nichols talked with Executive Director Peg Libby about this important fundraising event. Hi Peg, nice of you to come and join us and to talk about your upcoming Big Spring fundraiser. Well, thanks for having me. So, tell us a little bit about the Kids First Center, it's located on St. John's Street here in Portland, right? That's right. We are a small organization that provides a lot of services to families who are going through divorce and separation with the focus being on the children. How can we help parents through this transition and lessen the negative impact on children? Great mission. Okay, great, and as all small non-profits, you're always looking for money to involve the community, and so you're having a big, exciting spring event. We are, and it's our only big event. We're a small enough agency, we don't have a development department, but we do provide services regardless of a family's ability to pay. So we do one major event a year, and it's called a Gala or a Gala, whichever way you want to pronounce it, and this year it is on May 17th, which is a Thursday night. We have, we don't have a sit-down dinner, but nobody goes away hungry. We have lovely hors d'oeuvres, it's at the Woodlands Club. We have the big chief band playing this year, and they're a great dance band, and at our event, everybody always dances. I think it says something about the good time that they're having, and we're really looking forward to it. It's the, you know, it's the typical Gala, we've got the live auction, we've got the silent auction, but I think people are going to be really pleased with some of the items that we have. Great. And so it's, I think I read the press releases, Open Bar and Gourmet Treats by, from some of the local purveyors of Gourmet Treats, and there is an admission charge, correct? There is. There is. That's one of the ways we fundraise. The tickets are $75 a piece. Sure, and they're going to a good cause. And they're going to a real good cause, and you won't go away hungry or un-entertained. Our live items this year are fantastic. We've got a week in Santa Belle Island. We've got a week at Islesboro. We have a painting by Missy Aisin, who has supported she and her husband Michael us for years. We have Andrea Adams, Angela Adams, Rugg. We have a puppy, but has to be the right owner. We are very particular about who might take home this puppy, but it's a Golden Retriever puppy, and he will make a very brief guest appearance during the live auction. Wow, that sounds like fun. It's going to be fun. Our auctioneer is always Tom Satterley. I've seen Tom at work, and he's good. He's a master, and he's always entertaining, and so we're really looking forward to it. It should be a fun time. That sounds great. And the Woodlands is in Falmouth, right? It is, and you can purchase tickets. The easiest way is online, and you can purchase tickets online by going to kidsfirstcenter.org. We also have a raffle item. It's the new iPad, and you do not have to be present to win. So you can go on our website and purchase raffle tickets as well. Great. That sounds like a great little raffle prize. Oh, it is. Yeah, we're very pleased with that. Okay, and what's the date again of the big spring 2012 gala? It is Thursday, May 17th, so it's coming right up. What time does it start? It starts at 6. 6 p.m. Goes to 10. Great. So it's going to be food, fun, and entertainment for a good cause. For a good cause. Great. So how many times have you done this? Well, you know, the center has been opened for, we opened in January of 1998 during the big ice storm, actually. And we have had some sort of a spring gala every single year. And I'm sure it's getting better every time. Oh, better every year. We used to have it in private homes, and that was kind of fun, but we outgrew the private homes, and so the Woodlands has been very gracious to us. That sounds terrific. So just to wrap up, again, the date and the time and location. It is May 17th at 6 o'clock to 10 at the Woodlands, and that is to benefit the Kids First Center. Great. Kids First Center, supporting families through separation and divorce. Exactly. Great. Thanks for coming today, Peg. And I hope you have a very successful event. Thank you. Thanks for having me. You're welcome.