From left to right: Gary Park, President of UNC Hospitals, was honorary host of the evening with his wife, Cindy. Karen McKinnon, the founder of the Ms. Molly Foundation, and Dave McKinnon, the CEO of the Molly Maid Home Office, were also excited to raise a few bids. Delores and Lynn Drayton, owner of Molly Maid, Inc., came for the special evening.
On Thursday night, the seventh annual Silent (No More!) Auction at The Carolina Club saw an enthusiastic group of bidders come out in support of UNC Hospital’s Beacon Child and Family Program. The auction is hosted and sponsored by Molly Maid of Chapel Hill and the Ms. Molly Foundation and is the main fundraising event for the Beacon Program, which assists patients, families and employees who experience family violence.
Powerful speeches from volunteers about their personal experiences with domestic violence and their goals for the future reminded everyone of the value of their work. Then, it was just a matter of helping the cause – and picking up a few party favors along the way.
Don Basnight of Weaver Street Realty greeted everyone as emcee, and later he kept them on their toes as auctioneer. The guests gathered for wine, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to attach their bidding number to all sorts of items, from a Crook’s Corner meal to a hockey stick signed by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The big items opened up for a live auction later in the evening. Basnight drew out the competitive edge in bidders, particularly for items such as a Tiffany’s necklace; a lunch date with Sarah Gruen, author of Water for Elephants; and a basketball signed by UNC Men’s Basketball Coach Roy Williams.
Competition didn’t overshadow the camaraderie, however. The energy of the Beacon Program staff and the eagerness of the Ms. Molly Foundation bolstered the spirit of the whole evening.
Check out our slideshow for pictures from the event.
