Rock-A-Bye Ball is Nov. 10 at Tom's Country Place

A night of fine dining and dancing await those who attend the 8th Annual Rock-A-Bye Ball Nov. 10 at Tom’s Country Place to benefit Blessing House.

This year, the ball's theme is "Puttin’ on the Ritz" where guests will be traveling back in time to the Roaring ‘20s. More than 300 guests are expected to enjoy an evening of fun and friendship.

The ball’s co-chairs, Lisa Bramhall, Sam Mazzola and Deb Suhay, are all Avon residents. The event also draws heavily from Avon Lake and is a major source of revenue for the house.

"Last year's ball raised more than $70,000, which is 20 percent of our annual operating expenses," Bramhall, who helped found Blessing House eight years ago, said.

Live music will be provided by Skin and Bones, a band made up of doctors from the Cleveland Clinic. Alan Fee from Radio Station Q104 will be hosting our live auction.

Blessing House, located in Lorain, is a non-profit children’s crisis care center in Lorain County that cares for children ages birth through 12 when a family is experiencing an emergency and needs a safe place for their children to stay.

This year, the ball will be honoring US Steel for their support of Blessing House. Employees from US Steel spent a day painting rooms and hallways at Blessing House in May.

“They also did a makeover in our backyard by installing a new asphalt bike path and a reading garden,” Blessing House Director Sr. Mary Berigan, said. “They will be coordinating a Halloween Party and a Christmas Party for our children and families in the coming months.”

US Steel will be receiving the Jimmy Davis Heart for Service Award in memory of Board Member Jimmy Davis.

Several raffles are planned, with winners receiving a diamond jewelry piece from Rob Levit Jewelers, a $1,000 shopping spree at Peter & Co. Jewelers, a Crocker Park Shopping Spree and a selection of refreshments from the Stock Your Bar Raffle. Available at the live auction will be vacations at a condo in the mountains of Vail, a condo at Lake Tahoe, and a house that sleeps 14 on Kelley’s Island. Also available will be opportunities to be a batboy for a Cleveland Indians game and to spend a day with the equipment manager of the Cleveland Browns.

The event will include a silent auction, featuring more than 125 items ranging in value from $25 to $1,000, such as spa packages, jewelry, entertainment and sporting event tickets, household items and other fun things for the whole family.

Blessing House has been open 7 ½ years and has cared for over 800 children whose families were dealing with emergencies like medical issues, housing problems, domestic violence, substance abuse and stress.

Tickets for the Rock-A-Bye Ball are $125 each and can be obtained by calling Blessing House at 440-240-1851. For further information about the Rock-A-Bye Ball or how you can help Blessing House, email co chairs Lisa Bramhall, Sam Mazzola, Deb Suhay, or Sr. Mary Berigan at info@blessinghouse.org. Visit www.blessinghouse.org for more information and updates about this year’s Rock-a-Bye Ball.