The Women’s Fund of Portage County is hosting its 15th annual fundraiser, A Reason to Shop, Share and Socialize (A.R.T.S.) Night, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Stevens Point.

The night features a variety of art for sale, silent auction, light buffet, live music and a cash bar. This year’s special feature is a display by the Star Point Quilters Guild.

Music will be provided by Courtney Cordova and the Aspiring Acapella group.

The A.R.T.S. Night raffle includes a grand prize of $2,500 toward a jewelry piece designed by Thomas Dailing Designs of Lee Ayers Jewelers. Other raffle prizes include 18 holes and a cart for a foursome at Sand Valley Golf Resort and a $400 Pro Shop gift card, a 50-inch color TV and a $250 MasterCard gift card. Raffle tickets are being sold by Women’s Fund board members with one ticket for $10 or three for $25.

This year’s featured artist is Dailing, a longtime supporter of the Women’s Fund and other local organizations who has made a difference in the lives of local women and children. Dailing is an internationally recognized jewelry designer who makes a steady stream of jewelry for collectors across the country, and who loves to sit down with local customers to create meaningful pieces for special occasions.

In addition to Dailing, there will be over 20 unique artists and four Cottage Gallery vendors participating in the 2017 A.R.T.S. Night. The artists’ work includes many different mediums such as wood, silverware, pottery, blown glass, paintings, weavings and jewelry.

The Cottage Gallery has offerings of fresh and frozen homemade pies, chocolates, truffles and confections, natural soaps, lotions, lip balms, body butters and artisan breads.

All artists generously donate 25 percent of their sales from A.R.T.S. Night to the Women’s Fund.

A.R.T.S. Night generates charitable funds for grants given annually by the Women’s Fund to community groups providing services to local women and children throughout Portage County. Support from sponsors also helps offset costs so that 100 percent of the event proceeds go directly to grants.

Tickets for the event are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Tickets are available at Beyond Ordinary, Girls in Pearls, Ski’s Market, Regnier Consulting Group, Inc., Robin’s Nest Gifts, Sugar Doll Chocolates & Cards, Lee Ayers Jewelers, and the Stevens Point Area YMCA. They can also be found at the Women’s Fund website at womensfundpc.org.

The Women’s Fund is an endowment supporting local women and children, formed by a collaborative partnership among the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, Saint Michael’s Foundation, and the Stevens Point Area YMCA Foundation.

The mission of Women’s Fund is to empower women philanthropists by creating opportunities to fund programs that will develop the full potential of local women and children. Since its establishment in 1997, they have provided over $500,000 to 62 local agencies.

This year, $60,000 was allocated to the 20 projects that improve the situation of women and children in Portage County, including Energy Payment Assistance for Single Moms, Project Fresh Clothes, Boys and Girls Club Programs, and Meals on Wheels for Senior Women.

More information regarding this event and the Women’s Fund can be found on their website.