It might have been their first time hosting such an affair, but members of the Selma Charity League who organized this inaugural Artrageous charity event seemed to have little doubt that it was a success.

The event, which was held at City Ceramics, allowed area children to paint ceramic Christmas ornaments. The money raised went to the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center, an organization that helps children who have been physically or sexually abused.

Mary Susan Crovato, president of the Selma Charity League, said the event was about bringing children and families together through the arts while helping others.

“We wanted a way for children in our town to get involved with not only ceramics, but also to help give back to the city,” Crovato said. “This is something that more people will do because, this is something you can keep for years and years.”

Children had a choice of ornaments in the shape of a circular ornament, the shape of a cross or the state of Alabama.

The Charity League has held similar events in the past, but Crovato said the ceramic ornaments are something participating children and their families could hold on to as a reminder of their day and their donations.

“For years and years we have done the Gingerbread Wonderland, which is where the kids get together and make gingerbread houses,” Crovato said. “But that was something we couldn’t keep, this is something they can keep or give as gifts.”

Jessica Verhoff brought her two children — daughter Hadley, 6, and son Hudson, 20 months — to Saturday’s event, and said the idea of painting ornaments for charity was something the kids would enjoy.

“We like to help the Charity League and things like this around town, and we just thought it would be a fun way to start a new tradition,” Verhoff said. “And somehow, their clothes stayed clean.”