The YWCA Celebrity auction has been held for the past 22 years to raise money for domestic violence programs. It has always been a fairly successful event, but when Martina McBride became involved in 1995, it has continued to surpass expectations year after year. This is the first year Martina has missed the auction, and she only did so due to her pregnancy.
Celebrities JoDee Messina, Keith Anderson, Miranda Lambert, Jimmy Wayne, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Naomi Judd and Jay Teter stepped up to the plate to make sure the auction was a success. The celebrities stepped into the media tent on their way to the auction for photo ops and interviews that were set up ahead of time. I was only able to be there for a couple of hours and it was a last minute decision to attend the auction, so we didn't have any interviews set up. However, we were able to get some great photos and learn a bit more about the auction as we listened to the conversation in the tent.
This year there were tons of things up for sale. Several stars offered autographed photo/signed CD packages or articles of clothing. Reba had some signed scripts from her hit TV show. There were a few one of a kind items as well, like the framed and autographed handprints and b/w photo of Tammy Wynette. The short while I was able to be in the auction tent, there was frenzied bidding on a signed lithograph from Phil Vassar that sold for $650.
When all was said and done, the auction raised a total of $115,000.00. Keith Anderson helped things along by selling the shirt off his back and giving out smooches to raise $750. A frenzied bidding war over Jimmy Wayne's framed and signed "Stay Gone" lyrics and CD package raised $2,000. He agreed to supply another package so that each bidder could have one at a matching price. Some of the highest bids of the day were for Wynonna's personalized Copley Black guitar at $3,500.00 and her signed Gibson electric guitar sold for $3.300.00.
There were far too many donations to mention everything and everyone by name, but the country music community as a whole stepped up to the plate and made a huge difference in the lives of those who are affected by domestic violence. So save your pennies and hit the celebrity auction for fun and a great cause when you go to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville next year.
