“Coach Charming,” also known as Bill Alverson, will provide the entertainment for a fundraiser for Bethesda House set for June.

Bethesda House is a domestic violence shelter set to open later this year.

“Two years ago, Opportunity House dissolved,” said Kim Baumgartner, who’s helping coordinate the fundraiser. “In that two-year period, people in need really had no shelter to go to. No one wants to talk about the obvious, but there is a need here for this service.”

Bethesda House was organized with new board members and a new executive director.

“We want to open in August,” Baumgartner said. “We’re in need of money to get the house ready, because it’s been closed for two years.”

George and Patricia “Sister” Barnes agreed to host the event, and Baumgartner said an “unbelievable team” is working on the fundraiser.

“Jared Boutwell is doing all of the décor,” she said. “Bill Alverson will be the guest speaker. He’ll make it fun and light-hearted, but also educate everyone about domestic abuse, and how it affects Covington County.”

Alverson is a local attorney who has gained national attention through his success in coaching pageant participants. Last year, that success landed him a reality television series, filmed locally, called “Coach Charming.”

The décor and theme will feature the purple lotus, she said.

“Purple is the color for domestic violence awareness,” Baumgartner said. “The lotus is a beautiful flower that emerges from muddy water to become gorgeous. The message is that you can still be beautiful, despite adversities.”

The fundraiser, set for 7 p.m. on Tues., June 7, will be in a cocktail party format. All of the appetizers served will be recipes from Mrs. Barnes’ most recent cookbook. Mrs. Barnes is also known as “Sister Schubert,” the creator of divine yeast rolls.

“We thought it would be fun, since she was hosting, to do all of the food from her cookbook,” Baumgartner said.

There are only 150 tickets available for the outdoor, tented event, which also will feature live and silent auctions. Tickets are $50 each, and all proceeds go to Bethesda House.

Tickets are available at Southern Independent Bank, CCB Community Bank, and Harold’s.