Local judges and other elected officials working as waiters raised $1,571 in tips on Sunday to benefit the Child Advocacy Center of the Third Judicial District at the "TIP a VIP" fundraising dinner.

"We're very pleased," a center spokesman said.

Deana Hicks, executive director of the Child Advocacy Center, said the center's board hopes to hold a similar event each year.

"We have invited the VIPs of Greene County to come in and serve dinner here at Maud's Red Roof Kitchen," she said on Sunday evening. "The owners believe in our mission and wanted to help out. And they decided to open up their facility for us."

Hicks said the Mosheim-based Child Advocacy Center is a non-profit organization which works with law enforcement, the district attorney and other agencies to ease the trauma associated with child-abuse investigations for children.

"Unfortunately, we have a high rate of child abuse in Greene County, and throughout the Third Judicial District," Hicks said. "It's a community problem and it's going to take the entire community to solve it."

The event was held from 5 to 8 p.m.

Greene County Chancery Court Clerk Kay Solomon Armstrong said the center's board contacted her about the prospect of holding the unique fundraising dinner at the restaurant. Her son, John Solomon Armstrong, owns and operates Maud's Red Roof Kitchen.

Armstrong said her son readily agreed to host the event and that the restaurant's staff, which also includes her husband, Dan Armstrong, and herself, were happy to be able to help.

The restaurant is housed in the expanded former residence of Kay Solomon Armstrong's grandmother,

the late Maud Stevens, and takes its name from Mrs. Stephens, Armstong said.

She noted that the restaurant has hosted a number of other fundraising events.

Waiters for the event included:

* State Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville;

* Miss Greene County Candace Babb;

* Greeneville Mayor Laraine King;

* Gene Norton, candidate for Register of Deeds;

* Dr. Lyle Ailshie, Director of Greeneville City Schools;

* General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge Ken Bailey Jr.;

* Circuit Court Clerk Gail Davis Jeffers;

* Assistant District Attorney Cecil Mills; and

* Circuit Judge Tom Wright.

Patrons ordered from the menu and were asked to leave tips for their servers. All of the tips will be donated to the Child Advocacy Center.

The servers competed among themselves to see who could accumulate the largest amount of tips for the Center by the end of the evening.

Dr. Ailshie accumulated $689 in tips to lead all other waiters, a center spokesman said.

The Child Advocacy Center provides "a safe and caring environment to help heal the hurt of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, and drug-endangered children," executive director Hicks said.

The center is in Mosheim, and the trained staff offers the following services to children and families in crisis:

* Crisis Intervention/Counseling Program;

* Child Protective Investigative Team;

* Education and Training Coordination;

* Victim's Services Program;

* Medical Exam Coordination and Accompaniment;

* Public Education and Awareness Speakers.

Those who are unable to attend the dinner but who are interested in making a donation may send contributions to the center at:

Child Advocacy Center

P.O. Box 743

Mosheim, TN 37818.