The Children’s Law Center is shaking things up with a new approach to fundraising. Kick off your Saturday morning with the “Boots, Bourbon & Biscuits” brunch fundraiser on October 21. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can bet your boots that all the money raised will go right back to the children the Children’s Law Center serves throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.
Emceed by Big Dave from B105, the unique fundraising event will take place at Receptions in Erlanger. Guests can enjoy an amazing brunch buffet, music from the Marty Connor Band, a ‘Best Boots’ contest, and a Bloody Mary Bar. There will even be line dancing lessons taught by Arthur Murray Dance Centers and a very impressive silent auction with items like a Tee Higgins signed football, a package for a weeklong stay at a condo in Lake Cumberland, BB Riverboats cruises, and more.
A new idea for fundraising
Sasha Naiman, Executive Director of the Children’s Law Center (CLC), has been with the CLC for almost two years. “Every day, I am inspired by my colleagues’ knowledge, ingenuity, and dedication to representing child victims of crime, students with disabilities, homeless youth, and many other vulnerable young people,” Naiman said. “Most of all, I am inspired by the youth and families we serve. With a legal expert by their side to help them navigate legal systems, these kids overcome so many obstacles and show true resilience in the face of some really tough situations.”
When COVID-19 happened, the CLC had to pause its fundraising events for a few years. Now, as events are underway once again, they wanted to pick something fun and lighthearted for their supporters. “The “Boots, Bourbon, & Biscuits” event was created because we wanted to get together again for a festive, uplifting celebration with our supporters. “Boots, Bourbon, & Biscuits” honors CLC’s home state of Kentucky and gets people involved in fun, new ways. We loved the idea of making it a brunch—a little different from other fundraisers. The event is filled with music, food, drinks, fun, and community—because we all deserve days that are brighter and lighter, just as CLC aims to brighten and lighten the lives of the youth we serve. We can choose to get stuck in the challenges, or we can lift each other up. Children’s Law Center helps uplift young people every day,” said Naiman.
‘A name change can be life-changing’
Boots Bourbon and Biscuits began in 2022 and has touched the lives of many young people throughout the region. Last year, a CLC client, a young adult, was among the presenters and stated, “I first connected with the Children’s Law Center in the Fall of 2019. At that time, I was trying to get out of homelessness. I didn’t have any money. I didn’t have much of anything. Luckily, my case manager at Lighthouse Youth Services referred me to CLC when I wanted to change my name. This was a really important moment in my life. A name change can be life-changing. CLC helped me to accomplish this. It was so important to have an attorney: to prepare me for court, to talk me through the process, to calm me down at the hearing, to advocate for me, and to empower me to advocate for myself.”
Events like this one certainly take a whole village to present. Naiman said she is grateful to the CLC’s community partners and their support. “ We so appreciate our wonderful sponsors and auction item donors, whose contributions allow CLC to serve more children. We also thank partners who’ll make the event fun and memorable, including Wiseguy Lounge (for donating an amazing VIP tasting experience for sponsors), Arthur Murray Dance Centers, Marty Connor Band, Receptions Event Center, Tito’s, Big Dave, and others. Because we don’t charge our young clients, all of the money raised at Boots, Bourbon, & Biscuits allows us to continue providing our vital services for vulnerable youth across Kentucky and Ohio,” said Naiman.
Continuing the good fight
As with all good causes, the mission continues even after the fundraiser is over. There are many ways to get involved. “CLC always welcomes volunteers from a variety of backgrounds to help our work and our clients! For Boots, Bourbon, & Biscuits, volunteers help plan and execute the event, so brunch can run smoothly and positively for our guests. More generally, volunteers support CLC’s mission in many ways, including assisting with client intakes, fundraising, operational support, pro bono legal work, and beyond,” said Naiman.
If you’re interested in future fundraising events, consider attending Fiona: The Musical! In November. CLC is partnering with Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati for the world premiere of Fiona: The Musical! “Ensemble Theatre graciously donated the theatre to CLC for the dress rehearsal. We’re then able to give tickets to clients and their families, and sell remaining seats as a fundraiser for CLC.” Click here to learn more about Fiona: The Musical!
To explore ways to get involved with the Children’s Law Center, please contact CLC’s Development Director, Sydney Pepper, at spepper@childrenslawky.org.
Click here to purchase tickets for “Boots, Bourbon and Biscuits” on October 21.
