‘Evening in Wonderland’ raises nearly $117,000 for child abuse victims

Esther Short — Guests at the Children’s Justice Center Gala, hosted by Vancouver’s Windermere Stellar real estate office, spent an “Evening in Wonderland” while raising nearly $117,000 to help victims of child abuse. Nearly 200 people, many dressed to fit the “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired theme, attended the second annual event, which included silent and live auctions and other entertainment. The Vancouver branch of the Windermere Foundation often raises money for the Children’s Justice Center. The foundation also donated $86,600 over the last two years to the center, according to a press release. “It was a magical evening and the generosity was overwhelming,” said Windermere Stellar Managing Principal Broker Gerry Dowdy Latshaw in the release. “The guests were moved by the work that the Children’s Justice Center does to not only protect the community from child predators, but to provide highly sensitive, specialized care to children who have experienced trauma.”