The Taste of the Town in Santa Clarita is set to bring fine food, wine, spirits, desserts, auctions, raffles and a 1-carat diamond Sunday, May 4 to Mann Biomedical Park in Valencia.

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The Santa Clarita Child & Family Center Foundation recently hosted a kickoff party to promote the 26th annual Taste of the Town, which will be held 1-5 p.m. May 4 at Mann Biomedical Park.

The event will feature food and spirits provided by more than 40 vendors.

It is expected that as many as 2,000 attendees will support the fundraiser for the Child & Family Center, which provides mental health services to the families of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Taste of the Town is the SCV’s premier food and wine-tasting event, said Darrell Paulk, CEO of the Child & Family Center.

“We have a fantastic team every year for this event, especially our volunteers,” Paulk said.

Related Photos: Valencia Taste Of The Town Draws Thousands For Child & Family Center

Paulk described the Child & Family Center as “the best kept secret in town.”

“People don’t know what we do to help the families in the SCV who have mental health issues, substance abuse issues and those at risk for child abuse. Our work is silent and we keep it that way because if we are successful you don’t hear about it on the news,” Paulk said.

Paulk said Taste of the Town is a great venue “to come and have excellent food, listen to great music and meet up with friends for a great cause.”

“This is our number one fundraiser of the year,” he said.

Paul said The Child & Family Center serves nearly 650 clients a week in the SCV. The Child & Family Center recently also started a new program to serve veterans of the United States military in the SCV.

The kick-off event also featured ceremonial check presentations by Bank of Santa Clarita and Whitening Lightning, presenting sponsors of Taste of the Town. Each of the presenting sponsors donated $10,000 to The Child & Family Center.

“This is one of the marquee events in the SCV,” said Frank D. Di Tomaso, chairman of the Bank of Santa Clarita board. “It’s a great place to network and see friends. It’s also a chance to benefit The Child & Family Center, which makes the SCV a better place to live.”

Sandra J. Smith and Joyce Carson will serve as co-chairs of the event.

“Taste of the Town is a really fun way to enjoy great food and spirits among friends while supporting the Child & Family Center in providing mental health, behavioral, and education services to children, teens, adults, and families,” said Carson, a five-time chairwoman of Taste of the Town.

Carson said a new ticket system will be instituted this year for Taste of the Town.

“We are trying to go all online for tickets this year,” she said. “We know some people will be uncomfortable going online so there will still be tickets available through the Child & Family Center.”

Taste of the Town raised $223,000 last year for The Child & Family Center.

“We are hoping to exceed that amount this year,” said Carson.

In addition to food and drink Taste of the Town will feature live entertainment from platinum recording artist Mark LeVang and Friends, silent and live auctions, raffles, and a Diamond Drop champagne drawing.

“I am very proud to be part of this event,” said Apo Yessayan, owner of Classic Designs Jewelry and sponsor of the Diamond Drop. The Diamond Drop awards a one caret Belgium diamond to a winner who purchases a $25 raffle ticket.

“I have been participating in this event for 15 years,” Yessayan said. “It happens that Taste of the Town will occur just after I take my semi-annual trip to Antwerp, Belgium, the diamond capital of the world. I will hand select the diamond for Taste of the Town during that trip.”

About The Child & Family Center

Founded in 1976 by Katie Clarke, Liz Seipel and Carol Gelsinger, The Child & Family Center assists more than 3,300 children and 2,500 adults annually with a range of prevention, early intervention, evaluation and therapeutic services including counseling, crisis intervention, parenting classes, and substance abuse recovery programs.

Lois Bauccio, president of Child and Family Center Foundation, said The Child & Family Center assists children from all backgrounds and numerous challenges are assisted through the center’s services and programs. Problems treated include: anxiety and depression, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, drug and alcohol addiction, child abuse, domestic violence, thoughts of suicide, and more.

Taste of the Town sponsorships and donations of live and silent auction items are being sought. For sponsorships or donations contact Laura Kirchhoff at 661-255-6847 ext. 3166 or Laura.Kirchhoff@childfamilycenter.org.

Ticket prices for this adults-only event, which is expected to attract as many as 2,000 attendees, will cost $75 for general admission.

Reserved umbrella table seating is $100 per person (advance purchase only).

For information on Taste of the Town and to purchase tickets (ticket sales begin Feb. 7) visit the event’s website or call 661-255-6847 ext. 3018.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

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