Makua members will bust a move this weekend to help local foster children. The Point Loma organization is holding its 56th annual fundraiser, this year dubbed “Makua’s Rockin’ Rumba,” to benefit Voices for Children on Saturday, June 19 at Humphreys by the Bay on Shelter Island. “It will be the atmosphere of a Latin party accompanied by the music and the food,” said event co-chair Cindy Garrett. “Makua always throws fun parties.” “Makua’s Rockin” Rumba’ starts at 5:30 p.m. The charity event features Kicks — a 10-piece variety dance band — and Latin dancers and food. The members of Makua also have a little number planned. “At one point, the Makua members are going to do a salsa dance. All the members dress in salsa dresses,” Garrett said. Silent and live auction items include an in-home catered dinner by local chef Deborah Scott, a biplane ride, a six-person private jet ride and the opportunity to shadow a surgeon at Sharp Hospital. There will also be gambling in the Tropicana Gaming Club. “We sought this year to do more experiential kind of items — things that didn’t necessarily have a fixed value,” Garrett said. Last year’s event raised more than $100,000 for Voices for Children. Garrett said that goal remains the same for this year. All the proceeds benefit San Diego-based Voices For Children, which recruits, trains and supervises court appointed special advocates (CASAs), who work with local abused and neglected foster children. “It changes these foster children’s lives,” Garrett said of the CASAs. “A lot of times they have absolutely nobody to whom they can turn for guidance or even things that they need.” According to Voices For Children officials, there are nearly 7,000 foster children in San Diego and only 1,000 CASAs. Garrett said there is a waiting list of foster kids to get a CASA, who typically dedicates 10 to 15 hours per month to a designated foster child. “These people are each assigned a foster child and they’re like a mentor, but they go beyond being a mentor because they spend time with them,” Garrett said. “They’ll go to court with them, they’ll help them if they need something special for school,” she added. “They do a lot of things that really have an impact on the day-to-day lives of the kids.” Makua, which means “parent” in Hawaiian, was started by a group of Point Loma women in 1953 with the goal of helping local children in need. It’s main role today is operating as an auxiliary for Voices for Children, with membership extending throughout San Diego County. Tickets for “Makua’s Rockin’ Rumba” can be purchased online at www.-voices4children.com starting at $100 per person and $1,000 per table, with VIP options available for $200 and $2,000. Those interested in becoming a member of the Makua orgnization can e-mail [email protected].
