The Stanislaus Library Foundation will host a quartet of Modesto poets at its Author’s Garden Gala on Saturday, Sept. 24. The gala will take place at 6 p.m. at the Modesto country home of Ginger and Kent Johnson. All proceeds will benefit children’s programs at the library’s 13 branches countywide, including the Summer Reading program, which serves more than 11,000 school-age children each year.

Featured speaker for the evening is Modesto’s poet laureate Gillian Wegener. Joining Wegener will be Stella Beratlis, incoming poet laureate; and poets Ed Bearden and Paul Neumann. The theme for this year’s event, the Foundation’s primary annual fundraiser, is abundance. According to Foundation Chair Pat Portwood, “We’ll be celebrating the abundance of our Valley – from the richness of our soil and the bounty it produces to the literary talent of our featured guests.” Gala guests will enjoy a gourmet meal prepared by Surla’s Restaurant.

A unique and popular feature of the Author’s Garden Gala is a lively dessert auction.

“Local bakers are donating delectable sweets, from cakes to pies and pastries, for which guests will vie in friendly bidding,” said board member Kathleen Cohn. “It’s all in fun and every penny we raise goes directly to the library.”

Tickets, at $125 each, are available at www.stanislauslibraryfoundation.org or by calling (209) 529-1517.

The Stanislaus Library Foundation enriches lives in the community by raising funds to support key library programs, increasing awareness, and advocating for a vital library.