AMERICUS — Trying to think of an inventive way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other?

Books for Sumter Children is sponsoring their annual gala fundraising event “Love for Literacy” this Valentine’s Day, Thursday, at the Griffin-Bell Conference Center. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m., to be followed by dinner and entertainment. During the cocktail hour, there will be a silent auction to benefit Books for Sumter Children. Various items will be up for auction, some of which include artwork, dinner parties, an evening of entertainment by the GSW Jazz Band, golf packages and handmade items by local craftsmen.

Tickets are $40 each and include a cocktail hour, a surf and turf meal by Cousins Catering, wine with dinner and entertainment by GSW’s Jazz Band.  Dress is cocktail wear.

Fred Richmond, event chairman, promises another fun filled event.

“Last year was our first-ever gala; we had lots of fun and ended up raising over $10,000! We learned the ins and outs of hosting a large event and have been working hard to make this year’s event even better than last years.”

“Last year’s big draw,” said Richmond, “was the celebrity waiters. They did such a great job we decided to bring back the celebrity waitstaff this year and issued them a challenge to top last year’s fun!”

Some of those returning are the Americus Rotary Club, Americus Kiwanis Club, Johnny Shiver, GSW’s Sam Miller, Bill and Meda Krenson, Rhett Simmons, Mulkey McMichael and Sumter County Sheriff Pete Smith. These local celebrities will be sitting at tables, pouring the wine, collecting tips and entertaining guests. The waiters will donate all their tips to Books for Sumter Children.

Books for Sumter Children (formerly named The Ferst Foundation of Sumter County) provides a new book every month for children birth to age five. The books are age appropriate and are mailed directly to the child’s home. Parents are encouraged to read the books to their children in an effort to promote literacy and prepare them for school.

Tickets to the gala are available by calling Visions for Sumter at 928-0399.