Those buying a $75 ticket to Manteca’s biggest holiday party — the Soroptimists’ 40th annual Holiday Affair — will be getting more than an evening of light finger food and drinks for two, mingling with others, and a chance at a variety of raffle prizes.
They also will be helping provide the gift of help — and in some cases life — for troubled teens.
The Manteca tradition is marking its 40th year on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Bank of Stockton in the 600 block of North Main Street at 6 p.m. It is being staged by a small hardworking group of two dozen women whose service organization gave life to a guiding star in 1987 that has helped countless Manteca-Lathrop teens find the way to escape dark places in their hearts and souls.
It was 32 years ago that a cluster of teen suicides rocked the community. Four promising lives ended in a suicide pact.
The Soroptimists — a collection of business and professional women brought together by the drive to serve the community — stepped up. They made a significant donation to help Manteca Unified secure on-campus counselors from Valley Community Counseling Services.
Support of teen crisis counseling in Manteca schools has become the club’s marquee project. To date, they have contributed more than $350,000 to the effort. It has paid dividends in keeping teens from losing their lives when dark thoughts overwhelm them.
Since 1987 the $75 ticket that several hundred people each year buy for Holiday Affair buys help for teens struggling with darknesss — parents divorcing, a family member with substance abuse problems, the death of a parent or sibling, and dealing with other pressures to name a few.
The first Holiday Affair event was held in December 1980 at Delta Bank and was a sellout with 350 tickets sold. The grand prize was a new automobile. After a few years, cars became too costly and the members decided to go to other very special door prizes.
Other projects benefiting from the event include Raymus House, the Boys & Girls Club of Manteca, Modern Day Slavery program (human trafficking), Live Your Dream and Dream it Be It programs. In addition, the Soroptimists will also award $17,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors early next year.
Tickets to the Holiday Affair are $75. Each ticket that admits the holder and one guest are available at Tipton’s Stationery and Gifts. 169 W. Yosemite Ave.(209-823-7644). You may also contact Connie Meintasis (209-823-5828) or Gayl Wilson (209-483-8187) or any other Soroptimist member.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
