Near 200 people came together at Cross Creek Country Club on Valentine’s weekend to support the children of Surry County.

The second annual Heart of a Child Ball to benefit Children’s Center of Surry took place last night. Last year around 180 tickets were sold to the ball, and the number was almost the same this year.

Robin Testerman, director of Children’s Center, said organizers were worried that some people might not show up after the snow Friday night. But on Saturday morning, people continued to buy tickets, giving Testerman the confidence to continue with the event. Had the weather been worse, Testerman said the event would have been canceled.

Cory Tucker, chairman of the board of Children’s Center, said during his welcome, “It’s just good to get out of the house without six inches of snow.” This drew laughs from the crowd.

The event began with a social and silent auction at 6 p.m. Testerman said, “We’re very thankful that we had so many people to donate items.”

Items up for bid ranged from free stays at local vineyards to sports memorabilia. Raffle tickets for various prizes were also sold at the event.

Nancy Davis, who is the volunteer coordinator for the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, came to the ball for the first time. She bid on a few items and bought raffle tickets. Her friend, Pat Taylor, bought 13 raffle tickets in hopes of winning a prize.

Davis didn’t think she would win anything. “I don’t have that kind of luck,” she said with a laugh.

Although the silent auction was a large draw for the event, people said they came out to support a good cause.

David Swann, CEO and director of Crossroads Behavioral Healthcare, was one of the community members who helped start the center. He said, “It has progressed wonderfully.”

Of the ball, Swann said, “It brings attention to the need for children’s services ... It gets everybody participating, and it’s fun.”

After the social at 6 p.m., Tucker welcomed the crowd and recognized special guests. Dinner was then served and musical entertainment was provided by Hip Pocket. This band plays a variety of tunes, from rock to beach music.

Last year’s ball was held to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Children’s Center of Surry and raise money for the home. The ball raised $14,000 last year.

Tucker said during his welcome, “It started as an anniversary celebration, but it was so much fun we decided to have it again.”

The board chair said 2009 was a big year for the center. It was accredited, and the center came much closer to opening a children’s resource center in Dobson and a home in Yadkin County which will house six children.

“We are the model of what we believe a children’s center should be,” said Tucker.

He told the success story of a 15-year-old who came to live at the home after being abandoned by his mother. The teen had been living on the street and hadn’t gone to school in a while. He went on to become his freshman class president, play sports and graduate. He is now finishing his bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and plans to go to law school.

“To us, that’s the pinnacle of what we can do, hopefully break the cycle,” said Tucker. “That’s ultimately where the proceeds go. It’s for the benefit of a child.”

Children’s Center of Surry is headquartered in Dobson but has five locations in Surry and Yadkin counties. There is a residential home in Surry which can house nine youth. The center’s mission is to “provide comprehensive support services for families and children living in Surry County and surrounding areas in an effort to strengthen family relationships and to assist in the prevention of child abuse.”

For more information about the center, call 386-9144 or visit www.surrychildren.com.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.