The men of Ice House in Payne Hall will be holding a Bachelor Auction from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 in the Payne/Halverson Lobby to raise money for the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter (UPAWS).
Roy Robert Owensby, senior marketing major and resident advisor of Ice House, said 25 to 30 men will be participating in the event. Bidding starts at $5 a person and winning bidders will be escorted by the man of their choice to the Payne/Halverson basement for a three course meal. The meal includes a salad, spaghetti, garlic bread and red velvet cake all prepared by the men of Ice House.
“We recommend getting there a bit early because it’s being held in the lobby and it does fill up quick. We do have seating arranged but standing room will also be available,” Owensby said. Last year 125 people attended the event.
Although the origins of the Bachelor Auction are unknown, the Ice House has been holding the event for eight years.
“Last year was the pivotal point for us,” Owensby said. “We said that if we didn’t make enough we’re going to stop doing it. And last year we raised over $200 and our highest bid went for about $60.
“We really hit it off well last year and we think we’re going to raise a lot more money this year. We have celebrity hockey players in the hall this year. I think this is going to be a really big year for us too.”
Branden Broniewicz, freshman secondary education and biology major, is a resident of Ice House and will be participating in the Bachelor Auction for the first time this year.
“It’s going to be a really good time,” he said. “Last year they said it was packed door to door and you could barely walk through it. Everyone keeps telling me this is a lot of fun, and I’m pretty psyched about being a part of it.”
Broniewicz said the setup will be quite simple, and will include conversations with potential buyers.
“There will be an announcement for all of the bachelors to come out and we’re going to be able to talk to all of the buyers and after that’s done they’ll bring us up one by one,” Broniewicz said. “Each bachelor gets to choose a song as they will come out to on stage and their attire will depend on what the guys are doing according to their song.”
Ice House encourages this to be a co-ed event and that there will be no discrimination on donations. Denis Mundere received the highest bid of any bachelors last year, and was bid on by a guy said Owensby.
“Don’t be afraid to buy a man,” Owensby said. “We are there to raise money so don’t be afraid to participate. It is going to be a really great time.”
UPAWS is a non-profit organization located approximately one mile off US-41 at 84 Snowfield Road in Negaunee Township. They aim to aid in the sheltering and adoption of animals, promote pet ownership, educate and promote the importance of spaying and neutering, and assist in the strengthening of the human-animal relationship. It is community supported and have open admission for animals in need.
For more information about the event, email Broniewicz at [email protected] or for more information on how to donate, volunteer or adopt a pet, call UPAWS at (906)475-6661.
