Glory Days raises funds for good cause

March 2004 Playboy Playmate Sandra Hubby cheers on the crowd as she and DJ $crilla auction of bachelors at GD Water Street Tavern on Thursday night. Hubby and $crilla auctioned off 12 bachelors with all proceeds going to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Portag

Credit: Steve Schirra

Despite the idea that college students are broke, students and recent graduates donated roughly $1,000 in a bachelor auction for Big Brothers & Sisters of Portage County.

Roughly 100 people packed into GD Water Street Tavern Thursday night with ladies willing to spend whatever amount to win a date with one of the 12 bachelors being auctioned off.

Spending $70 to go on a date with bachelor Rob Finch was worth it, Kent State alumna Lindsay Johnson said.

“I’ve known him for a while, and I promised I’d put in a bid,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know it’d go that high, but it’s for a good cause. That’s why I was feeling generous.”

Although Mike Beder, who owns GD Water Street Tavern, said he didn’t think any of the bachelors would be sold for over $100, he was incorrect.

A date with senior Chris Harris, AKA DJ $crilla, went for $130.

“It was two girls,” Harris said. “They bid together and said they would drop $300 if they had to. I was happy with the gesture.”

The highest bid was $180 for a date with employee Jim Marino.

The bidding began around 11:30 p.m. and was hosted by Playboy Playmate Sandra Hubby.

“I’ve done charity events before, but they haven’t been for Playboy,” Hubby said. “I’m interested to see how this goes.”

Hubby was a wonderful host, Beder said.

“She was great at the auction,” Beder said. “She was great with all of the customers and very friendly.”

The money donated to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Portage County will be used to update the volunteer, parent and child handbooks everyone receives when they join the organization, said Associate Director Ron Kilchenman.

Because of the overwhelming turnout for the event, Beder said he plans to continue having bachelor auctions for Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

“Yeah, I think we’ll make it an annual event to do every fall,” Beder said. “It went well and we’ll pick up steam if we do it again every year.”

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