Plans are underway for the 14th annual Ladies' Tea and Auction that will be presented by Cornerstone Reproductive Health (formerly Pregnancy Resources at Cornerstone). The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 4, at Linville Hill Elementary School, 295 S. Kinzer Road, Paradise. Registration and a preview of the auction items will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the program at 10 a.m.

A highlight of the event each year is the table decorations. Individual hostesses volunteer to decorate a table, and they invite their friends to sit at their table. The ladies decorate their tables on the Friday evening before the tea. Themes last year included lemon-themed tables, a bird-themed table and a Christmas table featuring the hostess's nutcracker collection.

"One lady got custom cookies to give to her guests as a gift that matched her table. It's very fancy," said Jennie Straub, Cornerstone's executive director, noting that a hat contest will also take place.

A panel of volunteers will judge the tables and the hat contest to determine the winners. "(They will judge) the theme of the table, the elegance of the table and the originality," explained Straub. "(For the hat contest), winners will be the hat that matches the theme, the prettiest hat and the most original hat."

Menu items, which will be prepared by Hillary Prickett from The Salted Apron, will include veggies and cream cheese on a flatbread, yogurt parfait, chicken salad on a croissant, veggie wraps, pinwheels with pesto, tea sandwiches and scones with lemon curd and jelly. Desserts will be mini apple rose pies, lemon mascarpone tarts and blackberry cupcakes.

Additionally, the tea will feature a live auction, including live flowers and items donated by local businesses. This year, auction items will include tickets to Sight & Sound Theatres, paintings, flower arrangements, jewelry, gift baskets and restaurant gift cards.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the ministry. "Cornerstone is a nonprofit medical clinic for women or men who are experiencing an unintended pregnancy. We changed the name officially last summer," Straub explained. "We changed to reproductive health because we are offering more services now. We do STI and STD testing that is free. We felt that reproductive health was more up-to-date and encompassing all the services we provide, not just pregnancy services."

Cornerstone also has a new mobile medical unit that is ready to provide services. "Our plan is to have the unit go out two to three days a week and on the other days have it here at the clinic available for appointments," Straub noted.

For more information, to host a table or to purchase tickets for the upcoming tea, visit http://www.pacornerstone.org, choose "About" and then select "Events." The tea is open to women age 18 and older. Tickets purchased before Thursday, April 25, will be discounted. Tickets will also be available at the door.