What: It's In the Bag Lunch and Auction
Where: Ridglea Country Club
The 411: The Ladder Alliance's sixth annual It's In the Bag Lunch and Auction was the Fort Worth nonprofit's biggest event yet. With more than 150 silent auction items and six live auction packages, the organization raised over $124,000 toward its mission of providing assistance to female victims of domestic violence and economically disadvantaged women.
About 300 people perused and bid on handbags and other silent auction items before sitting down to a lunch program and live auction in the dining room. WFAA/Channel 8 news anchor Cynthia Izaguirre emceed, and Ladder Alliance founder and CEO Sharon Cox and board president Chad Kerr welcomed guests. Fort Worth assistant police chief Ed Kraus and Raye Chisholm, a Ladder Alliance student, spoke about domestic violence and the impact that the organization has on women's lives.
Bidding was fast and fierce in the live auction, conducted by auctioneer Richard Collins. Among the most successful auction items were a package for B&B Butchers & Restaurant — recently named Best New Restaurant in Fort Worth at the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards — which went for $3,500. Another top seller was the DFW Luxury Package, which included a night's stay at the Omni Hotel, dinner for two at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, and two tickets to both Bass Hall and The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. It sold for $2,500.
After the final numbers were tallied, this year's event raised an impressive $25,000 more than it did in 2017.
The Ladder Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves between 300 and 400 women annually. Its mission is to provide women victims of domestic violence and low-income women in the Fort Worth area with the tools to lead self-reliant, independent and successful lives.
Who: Liza Bateman, Kellee Gray, Daniel Davis, Cathy Davis, Julie Bullion, Lauren Brady, Carla Collins, Emily Brown, Stephanie Duelm, and Florastine Mack.
Julie Bullion, Lauren Brady
Maestro Robert Spano leads the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra on opening night at Bass Hall.Photo by Randal Vanderveer
