Ladies, get your checkbooks ready. GD Water Street Tavern, better known as Glory Days, will be hosting its first bachelor auction to raise money for Big Brothers & Sisters of Portage County.

The 12 bachelors up for grabs are employees of the bar and either students or alumni of the university, said Mike Beder, owner of GD Water Street Tavern.

Bidding starts tonight at 10 p.m., hosted by Sandra Hubby, Miss March 2004 Playboy Playmate, and Chris Harris, aka DJ $crilla.

The lady with the highest bid will go out on a date with her bachelor and receive a $40 gift card to Mangiamo!, the Italian restaurant Beder is opening in November with Aaron Ruggles, the chef/owner of Bistro on Main.

The dates can be anything from golfing and ice skating to a trip to the zoo.

“We’ll probably go out to dinner and if time permits, we’ll go to a haunted house,” said bachelor Brett Sinning.

Kent State alumnus and bachelor Robert Finch said he’s not sure what he and his date will do, but he plans on something romantic.

Beder planned the event because it was time for the male employees to participate in a fund-raiser, he said.

“Last fall we did a ‘Coyote Ugly Night’ where some of our female employees choreographed dances on the bar, poured shots in customers’ mouths and played up that whole theme,” Beder said. “We thought it was time to turn the tables and exploit our male employees.”

The bachelors will be auctioned off for roughly $50, but the bids are not expected to exceed $100.

“I’d like to see us break $1,000 in donations,” Beder said. “The organization can really use that money to advertise and attract new volunteers.”

All of the money received from the event will be used to help pay for the group’s operating expenses, said Ron Kilchenman, associate director of Big Brothers & Sisters of Portage County.

Beder has volunteered for the organization since 1998. He is currently the vice president of the board of directors and is scheduled to become its president next year.

“Big Brothers & Big Sisters is a great program for students to volunteer their time to, and it’s very rewarding to know you’ve made an impact on a child’s life that could use some guidance and a positive role model,” Beder said. “It’s been my and my business’ charity of choice over the years.”

Contact social service reporter Katie Alberti at [email protected].