Bachelors ready for bidders in autism event
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Posted: 12:09 AM Mar 17, 2010
Bachelors ready for bidders in autism event
March 17, 2010
The Bid for Bachelors event, hosted by the Albany Autism Center, will be held Friday evening at the State Theatre downtown. Ricki Barker, staff writer
Reporter: Ricki Barker
Email Address: ricki.barker@albanyherald.com
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ALBANY — Albany area bachelors said Tuesday they are more than willing to go up for auction for a great cause at the Albany Autism Center’s Bid For Bachelors event Friday.

Cole Taylor, 18, said he is not nervous about accompanying his date for the night full of music included in his date package.

Additional bachelors and date packages include:

Sports Packages:

Elliott McCrary, 27, Mechanical Engineer
Two nights in Birmingham, Ala., with passes to a three-day Indy Grand Prix race at Barber Motorsports Park. Pit passes and tickets to Barber Motorsports Museum and lunch and dinner at the famous Bright Star Restaurant.

Michael Shivok, Manager of Pizza Hut in Camilla
Tickets to an Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers game in Atlanta. Includes a tailgate party pack from Shane's Rib Shack and hotel accommodations provided by Hampton Inn & Suites of Flowery Branch.

Craig Dodge
Two tickets to the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Labor Day race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Adventure Packages:

Jonathon Luttrell, 23, Manager of One Trick Pony
A four-days-and-three-nights cruise aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

Trey Underwood, 29, Attorney
Tickets to Wild Adventures Water & Theme Park in Valdosta with accommodations at the Wingate Inn. This package includes a four-course meal at Charlie Tripper's and a movie of choice at the AMC Theater in Valdosta.

Jeff Fulford, 28, Realtor
A three-day/two-night stay in a three-story private log cabin overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dates will be treated to guided whitewater rafting along the Ocoee River as well as a day spent in Dahlonega. A $50 gift certificate compliments of Envy Boutique is also included.

Sidney Thompson, 23, Music Promoter (Silent Auction Only)
Tickets to tour the Wormsloe Historic Site in Savannah with a 1 1/2-hour moonlight riverboat cruise along the historic Savannah river. 

Entertainment Packages:

Uel Kemp
Tickets to see country music singer George Jones in concert with a dinner for two at The Catch restaurant in Albany.

Jon Mink Croshier (Silent Auction Only)
Tickets to see a performance at Theatre Albany with a dinner for two at Mikata's Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar.

Taylor Hartley, 23, Musician & Music Promoter (Silent Auction Only)
Free passes to the Flint RiverQuarium and dinner for two at Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse. This date package also includes a massage and gift basket compliments of Healing Hands.

Reece Ellis
Tickets to a performance at the Alhambra Dinner Theater in Jacksonville, Fla., with a dinner for two at Christopher's Seafood. This package includes a day at the spa compliments of Planet Beach, and accommodations provided by St. Johns Suites.

Beach Packages:

Dr. Ramano Rao, 47
A weekend getaway at Panama City Beach's five-star resort The Emerald Beach with dinner for two at the Saltwater Grill and a movie at the Grand AMC in Pier Park.

Mark Massey, 29, Sales Representative for Massey Wholesale
A stay on Amelia Island in the Amelia South Condominiums beachfront property. This package includes dinner for two at Cafe Karibo in downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.

Lee Trice, 25, Cattle Rancher
A weekend at the Princess Condominium (3 bedroom/3 bath on 2nd floor) in Panama City Beach, Fla., with dinner for two at J Michael's Restaurant.

Jason Wilson, 31, Electrician
A weekend at Panama City Beach, Fla., in a beachfront condo with dinner for two at Firefly Fine Dining restaurant. 

Michael Rogers, 38
A trip to the Golden Isles that includes a kayak trip for two and lunch for two at Latitude 31 restaurant, located in the Jekyll Wharf Historic District. Accommodations will be provided by Hampton Inn & Suites.

Pampering Packages:

Jeff Ablen, 25, WFXL Television
A day of pampering at Mint Julep Spa & Boutique with a $200 shopping spree at the Albany Mall and dinner for two at Mikata's Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar.

Kip Dupree, 31
A limo ride and dinner for two at Henry Campbell's The Steakhouse and golf for two at River Pointe Golf Course. This package also includes gift certificates to Mack Hair Salon, Blush, a one-month tanning subscription to Videos Unlimited & Tanning, teeth whitening and a 30-minute massage with Stan Collins at Tony's Gym.

Brice and Chase Halstead, 6 & 4
A gift basket full of every pampering need, which includes a complimentary night's stay at the Wingate Inn and a full hour body massage from Karen Johnson. A highlight, cut and style from Kristen Brown at Tanfastic hair salon and a manicure and pedicure from Elegance nails. A clutch purse compliments of Place on the Pointe and a Pandora bracelet and beads from Hodges Jewelry in Camilla. A tanning package from Tropical Sun tanning and a one-on-one personal training session with trainer Gene Wyles is also included.

Silent Auction Packages:

Family Fun Package at Lake Lanier Island Resort
The package includes a night's stay at Legacy Lodge with complimentary breakfast for a family of four at Windows Restaurant and two-day beach and waterpark admission for four.

Hidden Hills Country Club
Complimentary round of golf for four at Hidden Hills Country Club Golf Course in Jacksonville, Fla., with an overnight stay at St. Johns Suites.

Ponte Vedra's Luxury Golf Resort
A one-night stay at the historic Ponte Vedra Resort Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Cook on Vacation Baskets
Gift certificates to local restaurants including Chick-fil-A, Blackbeards, Maggie Moos, Cracker Barrel, Hong Kong Cafe, IHOP, Applebee's and Wagner's BBQ.

Atlanta Falcons Training Camp
Two VIP passes to the Atlanta Falcons' 2010 summer training camp.

“It’s for a good cause and all for charity,” said the budding country musician.

The winning bidder for Taylor’s date package will get to spend an evening with the young bachelor backstage at the Tracy Lawrence concert at the State Theater April 24. The lucky winner will also be treated to a massage and a gift certificate to Blush.

Taylor will also be performing at the Bid for Bachelors event.

Ben Mosely, 31, said the event will be his first experience as a bachelor up for grabs, but he is willing to do anything to raise autism awareness.

“I’m trying to help out any way I can, and if that means that I’m going to be auctioned off, that’s okay,” he said.

Mosely, a regional representative for the Georgia Soil & Water Commission, said his date package will be a must-have for any beach lover.

The winning bidder who claims Mosely’s date package will receive a two-night stay at a Waterside Village condo in Mexico Beach, Fla. The date package also includes a gift certificate to Anytime Fitness for a two-month tanning membership.

Bert James, 59, said he has been involved with Bid for Bachelors before, and autism is a cause close to home.

“I have a friend in college whose child was diagnosed with autism,” he said.

James said the event has many different types of date packages for anyone’s taste.

“They are nice date packages, and the event is going to be a lot of fun. You have to have a good sense of humor to be up there in front of the crowd,” he said.

James’ date package includes a weekend getaway to Treasure Island, Fla., and dinner for two at Caddy’s Waterfront.

Chris Carver, 19, is also a veteran of Bid for Bachelors. He said he was once a mini-bachelor when he was 3 years old.

“I had a basket full of all kinds of stuff that people were bidding on,” he said of his experience.

Carver, a psychology major at Georgia Southwestern State University, said he does not mind being up for auction again.

“It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just glad to have the opportunity to be helping out people,” he said.

Carver’s date package includes an hour-long hot air balloon ride in Tallahassee, Fla., a one-hour massage from Wil-Power and a basket full of tanning supplies, in addition to tanning visits at Hot Tin Roof in Leesburg.

“I think my date package is something that a lady would enjoy,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it actually.”

Twenty bachelors from numerous backgrounds and a wide range of ages will be up for auction, along with their unique date packages that include travel destinations, spa treatments, jewelry and tickets to sporting events.

Kelli Halstead, the Bid for Bachelors coordinator, said the night is not just for single ladies; there will also be a silent auction at the event with an assortment of items available to bid on.

A complete list of bachelors and their date packages, as well as silent auction items, can be found online at albanyherald.com.

Halstead said the event welcomes all bidders and that some bidders may be able to ask bachelors to opt out of packages if they wish to take their spouse or significant other on the trip instead.

“There really is something for everyone, so we are encouraging couples and singles to come and enjoy the event,” she said.

Some date packages include tickets to sporting events — such as NASCAR races and Atlanta Falcons games — for which coordinators urge other guys to bid and make it a guys’ night out.

“A lot of the date packages allow you to bring additional people along with you, so if a guy wants to go to the beach he can bring whomever with him. We also have a lot of family packages up for grabs. We welcome anyone to come and bid,” said Halstead.

All donations are tax deductible, and all proceeds will benefit the Albany Autism Center. Coordinators of the event said they hope to raise at least $10,000 in order to build an academy in Albany designed especially for children with autism.

Entertainment for the event will be provided by DJ Rod and the music of Taylor.

The Bid for Bachelors event will take place Friday at the State Theatre. A reception to meet the bachelors will begin at 7:30 p.m., and the auction is set to begin at 8:30 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $10 for the event and $15 at the door. Reserved tables are also available for $50 in addition to ticket prices.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at The Wingate Inn, Bailey Chiropractic, Envy, Lake Park Storage, Candler’s or the Albany Autism Center at 2115 Old Dawson Road.
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