Those buying a $75 ticket to Manteca’s biggest holiday party — the Soroptimists’ 42nd 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 42nd year this holiday season. 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 35 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 $360,000 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 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 also award more than $10,000 in scholarships to local high school senior.
Supporting the Teen Crisis Counseling Project is the service club’s signature project. The club’s donation helps the Manteca Unified School District provide counseling services to at risk teens at all schools in the district.
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) or any Soroptimist member.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
