Nonprofit Raises More Than $145,000 for Special Needs Children

FOCUS, an Atlanta-based organization serving almost 3,000 local families of children with disabilities or ongoing medical needs, raised more than $145,000 Saturday at its 28^th annual For the Love of Children fundraising event at the Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Community Center.

“Some 350 guests attended our Cabaret & Cabernet gala event,” said Kathie Teta, president of FOCUS' board of directors, in a statement. “They enjoyed live musical performances by Danielle Moore, Randall Sheffield and Elaine Wade and did some serious wine tasting prior to the sit-down dinner.”

Every year, the For the Love of Children event also includes a silent auction with donations ranging from original art works, luxury vacation packages and signed sports memorabilia to (this year) a one-of-a-kind tiled mirror made by FOCUS kids and a 4-foot tall Ferris wheel.

FOCUS was founded in 1983 to help families cope with the struggles of parenting a child with special needs.