Drinking for Charity

‘Tis the benefit season in Rochester, and what better way to support a non-profit than getting together with people and eating and drinking?  And I love a silent auction – I don’t consider it a successful event if I haven’t ‘won’ at least one item!  We’re not really looking for ‘a deal’ (it is for charity, after all), and sometimes we’ll bid on things just to help get the price up.  That sometimes backfires, like the time we went home with a tiny dog bed (we don’t have a tiny dog) and miscellaneous dog treats.  But we were able to sell the bed later on ebay, so it worked out in the end.  Our favorite items are the restaurant gift cards, since we know we’ll use them.  

So we were very excited to have two events to go to in October: the Memorial Art Gallery’s Celestial Centennial Gala, and the Bivona Child Advocacy Center’s 11^th Annual Wine and Microbrew Tasting, also at the MAG.  The committee that worked on the MAG gala did a 'mag'-nificent job, and the event was very well attended.  We were serenaded by two of the U of R’s a cappella groups, but the best part, for me was that they opened up the second floor entrance, which is normally closed.  It reminded me of climbing the steps at the Metropolitan or Philadelphia Museum of Art. Those grand staircases always seemed part of the museum-going experience, and I miss that when I enter the MAG from the parking lot through what feels like a service entrance.

We had no idea how popular the Bivona event would be, so when we arrived about half an hour after the official start, we had to make our own parking space!  When Mary Whittier, Executive Director, gave her remarks, she said that 470 people had bought tickets to attend (up substantially from the 50 who attended the first event 11 years ago).  After giving some statistics and then actual stories about some of the kids who’ve been seen at Bivona, she asked for donations for a room in the new building to be named in honor of all of the attendees that night.  She was hoping to raise $15,000.  I lost count at $30,000, and learned later that the collective generosity exceeded 60,000!  There were no silent auction items – only basket raffles. But there was a wine pull, so we didn’t go home empty handed…

Next up is the Toast to Your Health Fine Wine Auction, to benefit the U of R Medical Center.  I know Charlie will find a few bottles to bid on, and I look forward to seeing how Stency Wegman decorates the space this year!