Mickey Bakst, General Manager of the Charleston Grill, has done it again. He has reached out to the Charleston food and beverage community to ask for their help in honoring the victims, families and congregation of Mother Emanuel AME church with a gathering bringing together the people of Charleston. The event will be at the Belmond Charleston Place Hotel on July 9, 2015. Silent auction bidding on a variety of luxury items will be available to supporters around the country beginning on July 3 at Noon and ending Midnight on July 9.
You have a passion for philanthropy and for helping those in need. You are the mastermind behind successful charities including Chefs Across America, Benefit for Katrina, and Dine for Nine. In 2014, the Gibbes Museum presented you with the James S. Gibbes Philanthropy award to recognize those efforts. Can you tell me where that passion came from?
Honestly I am not sure. I was once asked why do you do those things and my response was “why not?” It seems to me we all have gifts that would enable us to help others around us. The question becomes not can you but will you? I feel strongly that I have been given some certain gifts and I feel a responsibility to use those gifts as effectively as I can. There are many people who have amazing abilities to help others but choose not to. I choose to!
Tell us about the A Community United event. What restaurants are involved? Share some details about the silent auction.
There are over 50 restaurants and beverage purveyors involved so to list them would be a bit tedious. All of the major restaurants in town are involved. The event will be a stroll around somewhat like we do for the Gibbes Street Party. The program will consist of the Mark Sterbank Spiritual Hymn group as well as a gospel group called the Low Country Voices. We will also have members of the Emanuel victim’s families, as well as other members of the church. We have given the church 200 free invitations. Reverend Goff, who did Reverend Pinckney’s service will preside over the event. We also have some pretty powerful presentations planned. Finally there will be over 200 items at a silent and on line auction so please tell your members to bring their phones!
What do you hope will come out of this event?
A little help for the family members and some unity for this community! This fund will donate 100% of the proceeds directly to the families.
In order to bid in the silent auction, you must register a credit card. If at the end of the auction, you wish to pay with check or cash, you will be given the option to do so. To make a DONATION, text 3000 to 843-606-5995 and follow the text prompts.
A Community United
Thursday July 9
6:30- 9:30
Charleston Place Grand Ballroom
Tickets $200
To purchase tickets and to view the silent auction items, please go to this website.
Published July 1, 2015