By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The YMCA of Chilton County is starting off its annual April campaign with new flair through An Evening for “A Better Us.”

Director Lori Patterson said this is the first time for the organization to hold such as an event as a part of the campaign.

The event will include live music, a steak dinner and live auction at Yellowleaf Creek Mill on April 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

“We hope to raise our campaign contribution amounts,” Patterson said. “The more money we can raise, the more children we can serve.”

YMCA leadership hopes the new format will draw interest from new donors.

Funds from the campaign will be used for program or summer camp scholarships, children’s programs and summer camp supplies and field trips.

Patterson said the YMCA of Chilton County serves 500 to 600 children each day involved in various programs.

“The YMCA of Chilton County is there for those who need it and those who don’t know they do,” Patterson said. “Our Y is giving families and kids the support they need to thrive in Chilton County.”

Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased at the YMCA on Ollie Avenue or from a YMCA board member.

Patterson said attendees will hear from a few speakers who have attended YMCA summer camp in the past.

Auctions items are still being added, but some of the items up for bid will include autographed sports memorabilia, custom corn hole sets, a quail hunt at Dream Ranch, a week at a beach condo and hair care sessions.

The A Better Us campaign will run through the month of April. The thought behind the name being that “When you as Y members, Y donors, and Y volunteers support the YMCA of Chilton County, you make your community stronger and help ‘us’ who live in them,” according to Patterson.

Yellowleaf Creek Mill is located at 1321 County Road 249 in Clanton.