Bachelor bidders raise big money for kids

By: Erica Johnson
Posted In: News

Upon entering Ochre Court on the evening of Saturday, April 17, students were met with music, laughs, and shouts of “20…22…24…going, going gone!”

It was the second annual Sigma Phi Sigma Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction and the night was a great success.

The night quickly got underway with MCs Becky McCall and Bobby Gondola calling forward James Anderson as the first bachelor on the auction block.

Each auctionee had a chance to strut their stuff up the aisle to such tunes as Britney’s “Toxic” and Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.” A short bio about the auctionee was then read before bidding began at $2. The spectators were eager to start spending their money to help a good cause, and even Sr. Mariana threw in a bid for Anderson, who works in Campus Ministry.

The first bachelorette of the evening was Malissa Brennan, a Resident Assistant (RA) in Miley Hall, who rushed from her track meet in just enough time to slip on her purple dress, donated by Carla Panaggio of Panaggio Designs, and make her way to the front.

“I thought the whole experience was hilarious,” said Brennan. “It was a tremendous amount of fun. I just wish I had more time to make myself presentable.”

Brennan heard about the auction from her friend and co-worker Stephanie Mazzarella who was a member of the Auction Committee. Brennan was asked to volunteer as a bachelorette and agreed because she thought the event was a fun way to help a good cause. This year’s proceeds went to the StarKids Scholarship Program, started by a local Aquidneck Island physician, which provides scholarships for children of incarcerated parents.

“You see a lot of charity organizations for medical disorders and such, but there doesn’t appear to be many fundraisers for the families of incarcerated individuals,” she said.

This year’s event raised over $1,000 for StarKids, which is double the amount of money brought in by last year’s auction. A date with Brennan drew in $55 from her fellow RA Jay Hill.

“(Being on the block) was a little intimidating at first. I just hoped someone would bid on me since the male to female ratio was so uneven,” said Brennan. “I was delighted to get bid on by someone that I was already friends with.”

Brennan was one of the top bachelorettes to draw in money, beaten only by Tiffany Pessotti, who was won for $86. The bachelorette roll call included: Malissa Brennan, Lauren Czarnecki, Jessica Devine, Michelle Fontes, Paige Pennypacker, Tiffany Pessotti, and Larysa Vernon. The bachelorettes drew in approximatley $350 in bids.

While the women had Michelle Fontes to shake things up, the men really gave the audience something to talk about. Joe Landino took over the mic to explain the “romantic at heart” comment in his bio. He described what his ideal date would be, a stroll on Ocean Drive, cooking a romantic dinner, and sharing a quiet evening together. The audience was then serenaded by Fred Maloney with the Elvis ballad, “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” To which McCall laughingly proclaimed, “I don’t know about you, but I’m in love.”

The bachelor roll call included: James Anderson, Matthew Dussault, JR King, Joe Landino, Fred Maloney, Paul Rogers, and Jeff Stevens. The bachelors drew in approximately $340 in bids.

The bachelors also drew the most intense bidding war with Paul Rogers. Two very determined girls would not give up and the bidding quickly escalated to $90. Finally a pink-faced Jessica Kochu won the date with Rogers and remarked, “That’s how you bid!”

“I felt like the auction was going a little too fast,” said Rogers. “And I wanted to put on a little show for the people.