On October 12, the Philadelphia chapter of STANDUP FOR KIDS held its first fundraising event -- a happy hour and silent auction -- at a local restaurant. And it was a great success!

Approximately 100 people filled the bar area at Rose Tattoo Café, which provided free appetizers and drink specials to guests (as well as offering their location at no charge). For the silent auction, guests were able to bid on items donated by local businesses, such as gift certificates for restaurants, theater tickets, and spa treatments, a gourmet dinner cooked in the winner’s home, and hand-made jewelry. A number of door prizes were given away, including DVDs and salon hair care products.

Advertising for the event was rather grass-roots, much of it by word-of-mouth but also listing it on Craig’s list and other local, web-based (free of charge) calendars of events.

The total raised at the event was $2,800. A $15 donation was asked for entry to the event. Raffle tickets for door prizes were sold for $1 each. The highest individual donation was the winning silent auction bid of $475, for a 4-course gourmet dinner for 4 cooked in the winner’s home (offered by Brian Cook, General Manager of the Philadelphia Four Seasons Hotels’ Fountain Room).

The Board of STANDUP FOR KIDS Philly would like to THANK and RECOGNIZE the following businesses for donating items for the event:

- Arden Theatre
- Image Salon
- Lucky Strikes
- Pictures by Todd
- Painted Bride Art Center
- Paradis European Salon and Spa
- People's Light Theatre Co.
- Prince Music Theatre
- Rose Tattoo Cafe
- Siaani Salon
- Spirit of Philadelphia
- Urban Blazers
- White Dog Cafe
- Wine Merchant
- Modern Life Interiors
- Bubbles Salon
- Kelly Myrick Originals

And the following individuals for their donations:
- Mrs. Bailer
- Brian Cook
- Khalida Masqudi
- John Moore
- Mitch Skewer
- Jan Waldauer

And as always, a special THANK YOU to volunteers who helped to make this event a success:
- Agata C
- Elizabeth E
- Frankie F
- Jan W
- Jason M
- Jennifer O
- John M
- Sharon
- Stephanie W
- Trevor B

Author: Jan Waldauer
Pictures: Todd Zimmermann Picturesbytodd.com