Yesterday, I attended a fundraiser to furnish the children's waiting area at the new Montgomery County Family Justice Center in Rockville - which officially opens this morning. This event was organized by the Montgomery Alliance for Community Giving.

It collected donations of books, stuffed animals, and money to furnish the children's waiting area at the new Montgomery County Family Justice Center. This center houses services for victims of domestic violence in one location, including the ability to transmit video to the Courthouse via Verizon-donated equipment.

The fundraiser was held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Kensington, who donated the use of the room. The St. Paul's Methodist Men's Club also donated $200 to the cause.

"Celebrity Scoopers," who served ice cream at the event, included Republican former Maryland Secretary of State Mary Kane, Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger, Montgomery County NAACP President Henry Hailstock, AFI Silver Theater Director Ray Barry, UFCW Local 1994 President Gino Renne, Kensington Mayor Pete Fosselman, Montgomery County First Lady Catherine Leggett, and Stewart Edelstein of the University of Maryland at Shady Grove.

There weren't many people there at the beginning, but many arrived as the afternoon went on. Before the crowds arrived, I talked briefly with Chief Manger, Mary Kane, and Mr. Hailstock about my project to get more Republicans involved in the cause of domestic violence. I also discussed the latest on the police disability retirement issue (in which some of our elected officials are trying to deny retirement benefits to disabled police officers, if you are new to this blog) with Gino Renne. Two of the biggest proponents of that shameful effort were in attendance, Council President Phil Andrews, and Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg. Later, I spoke with Kensington Town Councilmember John Thompson, who also attended.

I got some photos and video, which I will be uploading this week, starting this morning. There was a great magician, Alain Nu, who performed for free for this cause. I think he made State's Attorney John McCarthy disappear, because he was absent from the event despite being billed as a "celebrity scooper." Maybe the "fire truck display," too, because I don't recall there being a fire truck outside, as promised. But there were some pretty good door prizes, and lots of ice cream (vanilla or chocolate), cookies, etc. Also, plenty of hand wipes for these swine flu times we live in.

The great part about the donations, is that each child who waits for a parent at the Family Justice Center will receive one of these stuffed animals or books to take home with him or her.

The first video should be up this morning on the Robert Dyer Channel at www.RobertDyer.net and there will be more in the next few days.

In conclusion, this was a great day for a great cause.