The 43rd annual SCV Boys & Girls Club Benefit Auction will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Valencia Industrial Center.

The auction, considered the premiere social event in the Santa Clarita Valley, will feature more than 50 live auction and more than 200 silent auction items. Tickets are still available to attend the event.

Jim Ventress, chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Club of SCV, will be working his 30th auction with the club.

He will retire from the Boys & Girls Club of SCV on June 30.

“It’s hard to believe that this will be my 30th auction,” Ventress said. “It’s gone by so fast.”

Ventress saluted Boys & Girls Club of SCV Foundation director Ronda Chobanian and the volunteers who have worked for months to organize the auction.

“I think of volunteers like Pat Allen and Jami Kennedy who were volunteering when I attended my first auction and are still volunteering,” said Ventress.

This year’s auction, with the theme “When in Rome,” is chaired by Chris and Jayne Fall.

Guests are encouraged to don costumes including togas and gladiator outfits as well as attending as Roman gods and goddesses.

“We want everyone to come and enjoy the party and come dressed to celebrate like the Romans,” said Chobanian. “Costumes are encouraged, but not required.”

Among the items up for bid in the live auction are: a 14-day Hawaiian vacation, private party for 50 at a Sand Canyon mansion, jewelry, One Direction, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Cher concert tickets, autographed jerseys from Derek Jeter, Donovan McNabb, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Dodger Dugout Club Tickets and a Dodger Suite, and a Salt Creek Grille Wine Pairing Dinner for eight.

Six Flags Magic Mountain has stepped up to offer a host of live auction items including “Frolicking Fun Friday Night” for eight at Hurricane Harbor, a chance to be the “Ambassador Family of the Day” for the grand opening of the new Speedy Gonzalez Hot Rod Racers attraction, the new Holiday in the Park Tour for eight, Superhero Party with Jim Ventress and 20 of your friends at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Epic Coaster Connoisseur Tour for 25 and Six Flags Fright Fest VIP package for eight.

Other auction items include “Beer for a Year” from Wolf Creek Brewery, a VIP Aerosmith Experience and Steven Tyler signed guitar and the Hyatt Chef’s Table for Eight.

The “Roman Raffle” will offer the winner the prize of choosing any live auction item (except the 2015 Auction Head Table.) Tickets to the raffle are $100 each and the winner must be present to choose the live auction item which will be removed the list of live auction items.

Ventress said the annual auction “is the most important fundraising event of the year.” Auction proceeds fund nearly one-third of the club’s annual budget that provides after-school and summer programs at the Boys & Girls Club of SCV.

The club serves more than 2,400 children ages 7 to 17 each year at the Club’s Newhall and Canyon Country facilities.

Children pay annual membership dues of $36 to join the Club.

“The Club is a very important resource to keeping children off the streets in Santa Clarita,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste.

Tickets are still available for the auction with tables of eight available for $650 and reserved table single tickets available for $85. Guests can also attend the auction on a general admission basis (no dinner) for $25 per couple.

For reservations or to make a donation, contact the Foundation Office: Ronda or Suzanne at 661-254-3063 or visit www.scvbgc.org.