2nd Annual Date Auction

October 26th marked the date of the 2nd Annual State College Young Professionals' Date Auction: Meet the Challenge. Just like last year, the Date Auction raised money for The Second Mile (specifically the scholarship program for their Challenge Camp).

Again, 20 eligible bachelors and bachelorettes from the State College area were up on the auction block - myself included. Local businesses donated various gift certificates for the dates -- bowling, theater tickets, dinners, a wine tasting -- while others donated food for everyone in attendance to nibble on. And new to this year, we even added a raffle drawing, selling tickets for a chance to win prizes also donated by area businesses (of course there was something from me!).

This year's event was such a success! Just so you get the idea, last year we raised about $4600 (pretty awesome for a group that had been in existence about 5 months).

This year? What did we raise? We raised $7100!!!! How awesome! We totally destroyed last year!!! I totally "bought" 2 people. Hey, all in the name of charity. Tee hee!

I'm amazed that I was "bought" for $1,000 (the highest bid for the night). I'm lucky to have some really awesome people in my life (the photo is me with my "owners")! That $1,000 will send 2 kids to camp, so the money we raised that night will send 14 kids to camp!!! Go us!!

We're always willing to accept donations at our various outreach events. The next big event I'm participating in is the "Polar Bear Plunge" to raise money for the YMCA of Centre County! Yep, AGAIN!! If you're a State College young professional and you're interested in the Plunge -- either plunging or spotting -- let us know! We could use more Plungers!

I was AUCTIONED OFF!

On Nov. 17th, I participated in the State College Young Professionals' "Fall Collection: A Date Auction" to benefit our local Second Mile. And yes, I was one of 20 people being auctioned off for "dates".

Our goal was to raise $4,000. Some thought it was a pretty lofty goal. Could we actually pull it off?

Oh, WE DID! We raised over $4,200 with just the winning bids alone! :-) That didn't include the portion of the cover charge that was going to the charity as well! How awesome is that?! :-)

I'd love to thank everyone that came out to support us. Even if you didn't win or bid, just coming and paying cover helped us exceed our goal.

I'd love to thank the folks at the Cellblock for letting us use the club for the auction and for providing everyone with such awesome service!

THANK YOU to the local restaurants and businesses that donated gift certificates for the "dates".

I'd love to thank the fellow auctionees for putting themselves up on the auction block. I definitely don't mine making a fool out of myself for a good cause (this was the second date auction I participated in -- the first was for a THON fundraiser). Plus, I think we all got some great "date" activities. :-)

And, I'd love to THANK the folks from the SCYP who put the entire event together! It ran so smoothly and looked effortless.