“Believe,” an evening to support the mission of the YWCA, was held this September on the patio and in the tasting room of Basel Cellars. Volunteers poured fine wines while guests mingled and browsed the silent auction items and wine wall. Chef Andrae Bopp kept the hors d’oeuvres coming while Kate Morrison and The B Side performed jazz standards.
“This was one of the most enjoyable events I’ve been to,” said Julie Mae Longgood, President of the YWCA of Walla Walla Board of Directors. “It was a great party at a beautiful venue with caring and like-minded people. We are so fortunate to have good relationships with our donors.”
While waiting for the silent auction to wrap up, Master of Ceremonies Jet Titus entertained the crowd with a couple of card tricks. Not to be outdone, the YWCA Board of Directors did a card trick of their own, showing how an anonymous donor had made it possible to turn $25,000 into $50,000 with a matching pledge.
When the live auction got underway, the surprises kept coming. A four-night stay at Sun Valley became a ski package when a guest threw in lift tickets with the package. A catered dinner package became a winemakers’ dinner when local winemakers volunteered to select wine pairings to bring to the event.
The evening closed with an appeal to the heartstrings, a video testimonial from a past client who received shelter and counseling here after domestic abuse. She credits the YWCA, her son, and her God for saving her life. Her testimony was a poignant reminder of why we come together for these events—to support and reflect on our mission.
For a list of event sponsors and auction contributors, visit pwp.ywcaww.org.