We took part in another march of sorts recently - a charity auction for the March of Dimes. Held at the lovely Orchard Ridge Country Club, it was a 'signature chefs' auction, featuring heavy hors d'oeuvres from some of Fort Wayne's best restaurants.
While guests walked around and looked at silent auction items for which to write bids, they were able to sample bits of many savory foods. Catablu, Granite City, Calhoun St. Soups-Salads-and Spirits, Chop's Steaks and Seafood, and Casa Ristoranti Italiano were a few of the restaurants that offered snacks and also donated dinner packages for auction.
A pediatrician from DeKalb Health (the new name for their hospital) bid up a 'cookie of the month' club package from Blondie's Cookies. I won something for which I had bid on in the silent auction - an artist's rendering of my favorite sculpture: Cloud Gate, "the bean," the giant iconic piece in Chicago's Grant Park. It's a dark print with a glowing reflection of the Chicago skyline reflected in the giant bean. I love it, but it came in a cheapish plastic frame that I am planning to replace.
March of Dimes was originally a charity to help prevent birth defects. Remember when moms and kids would walk around neighborhoods, trying to collect dimes in paper envelopes? Fundraising has changed, and so has much of the focus of this charity. Although the organization still works on preventative care, much of the focus is now on improving the progress of premature babies.
Not long ago, a baby born at 28 weeks had only a 50 percent chance of survival. It was likely the baby would have chronic lung problems and perhaps neurological problems. March of Dimes' research led to the development of surfactant therapy; the use of some kinds of steroids to help a premature baby's lungs deal with life outside the womb. Now many babies leave NICUs healthier, earlier, and with better chances of avoiding life-long complications.
But more about the event. After the silent auction, snacks, and cocktails, came the live auction. If you've never been to an upscale charity auction, it can be quite a kick. An attendee experiences rapid-fire auction calling, with the auctioneer's assistants running around working the room, and guests outbid each other for desirable packages.
At this auction were donated trip packages, large group parties at restaurants, 18 holes of golf and lunch at the country club, and a Colts football game, dinner and hotel package. Having only attended one Colts game in our lives, we were interested in winning the Colts tickets.
I felt like some of the most generous bidders went for the "fund the mission" project. One received no freebies with this bid. All of the proceeds on this deal go simply straight to research and were 100% tax deductible. I found myself applauding for our generous friends who gave to this and took home no bling in return. You know who you are and here today I thank you silently, with tears welling up in my eyes.
We got to meet a healthy, thriving "preemie;" she is now two years old, just a little small and quite a pistol. Her parents stood up front and told the story about delivering her at Lutheran Hospital at just 24 weeks into the pregnancy. There's nothing like putting a real face in front of a crowd to make the story come to heart.
Orchard Ridge and March of Dimes did a nice job with this event; they rounded up some enticing donations and found some firecracker auctioneers. I'm not all that impressed with some charities, but I think March of Dimes has done a nice job reinventing itself, and finding ways to successfully move forward into the future.
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