Staff at The Children's Center for Hope & Healing have devised a way for folks to party with a cause.

The center will host its third annual Gala for Hope & Healing at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"I've never known anyone to come and not have a good time," said Rebecca Davis, the center's executive director.

"I think people enjoy the event even more than they would an ordinary night on the town because they have the extra joy of knowing that they are helping a wonderful cause while having a good time."

The center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to stopping "the cycle of child sexual abuse and preventing the exploitation of children."

The menu for the fund-raising gala will feature hors d'oeuvres from Scott's on the Square and a variety of wines. The dress code is black-tie optional or cocktail attire.

Jazz artist Larry Barker, who has performed with the Drifters and the Glenn Miller Band, and his Nat King Cole-inspired ensemble will provide the live, musical entertainment for the night.

The gala also will feature a silent auction.

Some of the items for the auction include a one-week vacation on St. Simons Island, original artwork, admission to the Magical Night of Lights at Lake Lanier Islands and a two-night stay at a Las Vegas casino.

The children's center has set a $30,000 fundraising goal for the gala. Davis says the fundraiser is very important to the center being able to continue offering its Women's Services program, which provides free counseling to women who are adult survivors of child sexual abuse.

"This year we've had a record year; we will have served more than 1,000 people before the year ends," Davis said.

"Normally we serve about 700 in an average year. Unlike a for-profit business, more business does not mean more revenue, so we are fighting hard to do a whole lot more with a whole lot less."

Tickets are $75 per person or $125 per couple and can be purchased at the door, or online at www.hopeandhealingga.org.