A few years ago, Lou and Marianne Kruth had a joint 100th birthday party (they were both turning 50). Their friends enjoyed the party so much that they insisted they throw another.

But the Kruths didn’t just want to throw another party.

“We thought doing it in the form of a charitable event would be a great idea,” Lou said.

With about 250 attending an Aug. 21 fundraiser at their home on the north end of Cazenovia Lake, the Kruths managed to net about $16,400 for Charity for Children.

“It was an awesome, just an awesome event,” said Nina Albino, executive director of Charity for Children.

Charity for Children, in its 6th year, is a Central New York-based charity that provides service to children with serious illnesses in CNY.

“There was truly a need for an organization that would provide direct services to children, not just with fatal illnesses, but with chronic illnesses,” Albino said.

Albino co-founded the group with president Kathleen Miller-Murphy.

The Kruths’ fundraiser featured renowned performers, both local and touring, and Marianne did much of the decorating. The fundraiser featured Kimberly’s Ice Cream and Dinosaur BBQ.

“It did raise a lot of money, and it raised a lot of money on a cool and comfortable summer day,” Lou said. The event was such a success, he said, “we’re strongly considering doing it again.”

For more information on Charity for Children, visit charityforchildren.net.