The Student Health Advisory Council raised money for the Arizona Make-A-Wish foundation yesterday by auctioning off 20 Associated Students of the University of Arizona members to go on “”friendly dates.””
Bidders paid $5 at the door of the Student Union Memorial Center North Ballroom to watch volunteer potential dates strut down a runway to the music of their choice.
Gillean Osterday, a nutritional sciences sophomore and co-director of SHAC was the first to be auctioned off. She has been planning the auction since November and hopes to make it an annual event.
The auction grossed $2,800, of which $2,431 came from the volunteers auctioned. Osterday originally predicted each person would go for $10-20, but bids ranged from $20-500.
The winners will be paired in groups of four and get to take their date out for a night paid for with gift certificates donated by sponsors in the community.
“”One of our major goals is to do a lot more charity than in past years,”” Osterday said.
She said SHAC primarily focuses on educating students about heath issues, but are expanding their horizons to the greater community.
“”I think a lot of the community is starting to realize who we are, besides being the people that pass out condoms,”” Osterday said. “”We want them to hear ‘SHAC’ and know what it is.””
All proceeds from the event are being donated to the Arizona chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which granted 13,006 wishes in 2007. The approximate cost per wish is $6,750.
The biggest “”sale”” of the night went to former UA cheerleader and pre-business sophomore Cascade Mittman, who brought in $500.
Long-time Make-A-Wish supporter Jeffrey Zavik from Florida made the winning bid.
“”I love Make-A-Wish, its my favorite charity,”” Zavik said. “”It’s money well spent.””
“”It feels really good,”” Mittman said. “”I’m happy to help.””
“”They help kids so much, so we’re trying to chip in,”” said Lindsay LaPresto, a physiology junior and SHAC member of Make-A-Wish.
LaPresto said she was a little nervous to be auctioned off on stage, but knows it’s for a great cause and thinks her organization is a great asset to the UA.
Psychology junior Anne Tantillo came out to support the cause because one of her best friends had a wish granted when she was younger, and knew it meant a lot to her.
“”I think it gives kids who are really sick something to look forward to,”” Tantillo said, who came to support and bid on LaPresto. “”She’s a good catch.””
Jason Argos, communications senior, bought SHAC co-director Kimberly Shipp for $226.
“”I figure if I’m going to spend money, give it to a good cause,”” he said.
He said the event was very classy, and was glad to help out.
Tommy Bruce, president of ASUA, was sold for $260 to SHAC member Jason Saunders who was helping collect money at the end of the night.
“”It sounds great, we’ll have a blast,”” Bruce said. Their group “”date”” will be at a UA basketball game. “”We’ll have to find some good nachos.””
Tommy also bought Jen Dang, administrative vice president of ASUA, for $100.
“”I wanted to be able to contribute to charity as well,”” Bruce said.
“”It’s the first time ASUA and SHAC have worked with Make-A-Wish,”” Dang said.
She said she was excited that a lot of prominent ASUA members volunteered to help out kids who need some extra love and entertainment.
“”It’s totally worth it. Its for the kids,”” Saunders said about his $260 donation. “”Just to see everything happen tonight was incredible.””
