Boston University students paid “Money for a Honey” to help a suicide prevention group at Fearless’ Date Auction fundraiser on Friday night.
Organized by Project 100 to help the Samaritans, a nationwide suicide and depression awareness and prevention organization, the auction brought in about 225 students to the Jacob Sleeper Auditorium in the College of General Studies and raised a total of $1,508 from ticket sales and bids.
A cappella groups the Allegrettos, Terpsichore, The Treblemakers, Bostoniensis and The Dear Abbeys performed before some choir members volunteered to be put on the auction block.
Victor Sandman, who wooed the crowd with “Lady in Red,” and Daryl Doeschner of the Allegrettos were two of the celebrity auctionees. Three fraternity brothers from Kappa Sigma were auctioned off as a “group date” after singing The Three Amigos’ “My Little Buttercup.”
Other auctionees included members of the student government, Resident Housing Associatio and WTBU, as well as Grant Myers of The Daily Free Press and members of the inline hockey team.
School of Education sophomore Katie Fone, as with many others, came to show support for her friends.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to bid,” Fone said. “It depends if they need me to.”
Bids, starting at $5, brought in $1,034. Tickets for the auction sold for $3, bringing in $474. The highest bidder was Heather Newman, who handed over $125 for her boyfriend, SMG Student Government President Rob Salaga.
“People up here are doing this for a great cause,” said Elizabeth Churchill, president of the BU suicide prevention group Fearless, as she announced the rules for the date. The rules included “no hanky-panky,” and no alcohol on the date.
“No alcohol before, during or after the date,” Churchill said. “This is to facilitate the first rule,” she explained as the crowd laughed.
Project 100 chair Liz Russo, the host of the auction, said she was “extremely happy,” with the event.
“It was a financial success,” Russo said. “The Samaritans are a non-profit organization, so this event could mean the difference between being able to put on a program and not.”
Raja Bhattar, a College of Arts and Science freshman, helped run what he called, “a very unifying event.”
“Having the opportunity to make such a difference is amazing, said Bhattar. “And to see such talent,” he added.
“It’s doing good for the community and it’s also having fun,” Russo said.
CAS sophomore Topher Bertone had not planned on bidding, but ended up handing over $17 for a “friend of a friend.”
“I really liked her, and she’s really hot,” he said.
Dates will attend a free group date at the Faneuil Hall Comedy Connection, who donated tickets for the event. Jimmy’s Harborside Restaurant also donated a $25 gift certificate, which went to the highest bidder.
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