CAII Cupcakes and Cookies for Kids Raises Over $3,800 For Local Children

If you smelled something sweet in the air around Cascades Park last weekend, it was not your imagination playing tricks on you.

On Saturday, April 16, 2016, Child Advocates II, Inc. (CAII) hosted the third annual CAII Cupcakes and Cookies for Kids fundraiser at the Florida Department of Transportation auditorium.

With proceeds benefiting the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, CAII Cupcakes and Cookies for Kids is a friendly competition for amateur and professional bakers and an opportunity for the public to raise money for our program by sampling the goods.

CAII volunteers arrived early in the morning to set up and receive the twenty-four contestant entries. Official competition judges Keith Baxter of Kool Beanz Café and Joey Gans of Au Peche Mignon then went to work sampling each of the cupcakes and cookies.

view the CAII Cupcakes and Cookies for Kids 2016 photograph album

Guests were able to visit from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, walk around to see all of the entries and use tasting cards to purchase items. Free refreshments were available courtesy of CAII and Starbucks. Guests were also able learn about our program at an information table.

Among those stopping in to check out the event were Leon County Commissioner Brian Desloge, Tallahassee City Commissioner Gil Ziffer and Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office Executive Director Alan Abramowitz, the latter of whom also helped out by announcing the winners.

"We appreciate their stopping in to show their support for the Guardian ad Litem Program and Child Advocates II," says CAII Board Member Kristine Lamont, this event's organizer for three years in a row.

Circuit Director Deborah Moore and CAII Board President Omega Wynn each took a few minutes to address the crowd. After everyone had a chance to sample everything and mingle, it was time for the raffle drawing. The names of all contestants were placed into a jar and then randomly selected to receive one of several donated prizes.

After the powdered sugar had settled, Lamont announced that $3,830.19 in funds were raised. This is a fantastic success and is about $1,200 more than was raised during last year's event.

CAII Cupcakes and Cookies for Kids would not have been possible without the support of the community and the guests who came to sample the treats. Special thanks to all of our participants, winning contestants, sponsors, donors, judges, volunteers and guests.