The third annual Princess Benefit Ball in memory of the late Valicity Faith will transform hundreds of girls into princesses on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Josh Faith, Valicity’s father, said this year’s event includes more than $50,000 in raffle or door prizes. Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of Montana. According to Faith, this Saturday’s Princess Benefit Ball will outshine the others.

“We have tons of gifts and we also have a lot more face painters this year,” he said. “We have 20 or 30 hair stylists helping us out for the evening. It will be wonderful.”

People should come at 6 p.m. for professional stylists to transform girls into princesses with makeup and a hairdo worthy of a tiara. Professional photographers stand by to capture the magic.

“We’ll have a little fashion runway show for the kids,” Faith said. “We have some people who are going to attempt to teach the kids how to ballroom dance.”

Bigger and better games, including a Wii bowling tournament, have been added to keep older youths entertained.

Prizes donated for the affair include a Seattle getaway with airfare and a Seattle Mariners box suite, an African safari hunting trip and a custom-made Harley-themed poker table. Faith said guests will compete for the table by buying a seat at one of seven poker games.

“The winner of each will play in a final game,” he said. “The winner of the final will walk away with the custom-made poker table along with a bunch of Harley Davidson paraphernalia.”

According to Faith, donors have responded in a big way to Valicity’s battle with leukemia that began with diagnosis just before her third birthday in January 2008. After 14 months of treatment in Seattle, Valicity came home in remission and attended a princess ball organized by family and friends.

“After the event, Valicity always talked about having another princess ball,” Faith said.

However, Valicity relapsed in April 2010. She underwent more chemotherapy but succumbed to a fungal infection in July.

The family mourns her loss but celebrates her memory and gift of bringing people together through these annual princess balls.

Each event benefits an organization that helped the Faith family, such as Angel Flight West that helped transport the family to Seattle for monthly checkups. The first ball raised more than $15,000 for Angel Flight and brought attention to the organization’s work.

In 2012, the princess ball proceeds of more than $24,000 went to The Montana Hope Project, which fulfilled Valicity’s dream to go to Disney World and meet the resort’s princesses. The money helped the organization make four other seriously ill children’s dreams come true.

For this year, the Faith family chose Ronald McDonald House Charities of Montana, which recently built a family room at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Faith said Ronald McDonald House remains close to the family’s hearts for giving them a place to stay in Seattle during Valicity’s treatment.

With all the new activities and record donations, Faith expects attendance and proceeds to jump ahead of 2012.

“We are expecting right at 1,000 people this year,” Faith said. “Everybody who was previously there is going to be there plus tons more. There is a possibility of maxing out the event hall.”

He encourages people to buy tickets in advance at Glacier Bank or Three Rivers Bank locations or on the website www.valicitysonceuponatime.org. Adult tickets cost $25; children 16 and under are admitted free with adult ticket purchases.

Faith said people won’t be turned away if they don’t come formally dressed.

“We definitely encourage dressing up because it’s fun,” Faith said. “But I don’t want anyone to have to go out and purchase a tux or ball gown.”

The organization has about 100 tiaras to give away to princesses.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.