Set all diets aside March 22, and say “yes” to your sweet tooth at the third annual “More Than Just Desserts” fundraiser.

Benefiting the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois, this event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton in Fairview Heights. Tickets for the event are $30, and include food tastings from 18 local area restaurants and chefs, wine, beer, soda, and bidding rights to a large silent auction. Reservations are required. Please call (618) 236-2531 ext. 130 to claim your spot at this “fundraiser to help victims of domestic violence”.

Pat Mayberry Vecchio, director of development for VPC, says these events such as More Than Desserts are vital to the operation of VPC since the program has been burdened by drastic budget cuts, and a decrease in overall donations and funding from foundations and grants.

“Due to the State of Illinois’ Department of Human Resource grant cuts over the past three fiscal years, as well as a decrease in donations and funding from foundations and grants, we have lost nearly $150,000 in funding in the past few years,” she said. “These are sizeable losses, and since we are already a barebones operation, we may have to cut services and programs unless our fundraisers and donations increase, so we are asking for heavy community support. What we raise at this event will be to replace those substantial cuts, not additional funding, to continue to make a difference in lives of victims of domestic violence and their children’s lives.”