A guest places a bid during the Silent Auction!
An Evening of Overwhelming Charity
Benefiting the Bay Area Women's Center
February 3, 2013
By: Sean Connelly
It was a night of delicious food, wine, and overwhelming charity for the Bay Area Women's Center's first annual Wild Game Dinner & Wine Tasting event. The Scottish Rite Center was packed full of guests Saturday evening all coming together for an incredible cause: to help raise money for the Bay Area Women's Center and their fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.
Director of the women's shelter, Kathy Allen, was beaming with pride and bouncing around from the check-in, to the food tables, upstairs to the silent auction, and back again overseeing the event. "This is our first year after taking over for the Red Cross," said Allen.
Volunteer Tim Holsworth and BAWC Director Kathy Allen
Photo by Sean Connelly
© MyBayCity.com
Starting off the evening was a silent auction that featured over 100 items donated by individuals and local businesses alike. Among the items donated were tickets to see the Saginaw Sting and Spirit, multiple night stays at places like the Holiday Inn West Bay in Traverse City and Gates Au Sable Lodge in Grayling, a painting of Fenway Park, and many other items. Once bidding closed for the silent auction, a live auction got underway for a few bigger ticket items that included a Mackinac Island getaway for two donated by the Mission Point Resort and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.
Pouring wine
Photo by Sean Connelly
© MyBayCity.com
Chefs from some of the area's finest restaurants brought their savory dishes to hand out to guests while they browsed over some of the evenings silent auction items. Each dish was paired with an accompanying wine selection to compliment the unique flavor.
All of the evening's proceeds will go to the Bay Area Women's Center which will help fund many of the centers' services which include:
24-Hour Crisis, Information & Referral Phone Line
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Individual Counseling
Support Groups
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program
Legal Advocacy
Housing Advocacy
Community Education Programs
Emergency Cell Phones
The Bay Area Women's Center was founded in 1975 by a group of twelve women who saw the need to provide alternatives to women in crisis.
Chef Jim Martini of Martini's Custom Catering carves the roasted lamb leg.
Photo by Sean Connelly
© MyBayCity.com
Juanita Dorne places a bid in the live auction!
Photo by Sean Connelly
© MyBayCity.com
One of the sections for the silent auction
Photo by Sean Connelly
© MyBayCity.com