By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG
The Denim and Diamonds charity auction on Friday, November 14 at 6 p.m. in the UC Ballroom at UM sets itself apart by letting attendees choose to dress up with bling or down in dungarees. Its range of dressy to casual emulates the variety of items available for bidding, from restaurant gift cards to iPads and weekend getaways. The gala event is collectively organized by the Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR) and the Missoula Building Industry (MBIA).
Tickets are $35 in advance and can be purchased online or at the MBIA office, 1840 South Ave. West or the MOR office, 1610 South 3rd St. West, Suite 201. Tickets are $40 at the door. Heavy appetizers and desserts will be served at the event and are included in the ticket price. A no-host bar will also be available. Denim and Diamonds will be a celebratory opportunity to socialize, network and give back to the Missoula community.
The Missoula Organization of Realtors and the Missoula Building Industry Association began partnering on their annual charity auction last year in order to share the workload and the benefits of the event. MOR’s share of the proceeds benefit MOR4Kids, a nonprofit organization created by MOR in 2011 after their members recognized a growing need for food, proper clothing, school supplies and other resources among children and their families in the public school system. Last year the event raised over $16,000 with half going to MOR4Kids and the other half benefiting MBIA’s charity of choice. This year MBIA has chosen to split the proceeds to the Missoula Children’s Museum’s facility remodel and the construction of a new barn at Garden City Harvest’s River Road Farm.
MOR4Kids has donated $23,325 to Missoula’s schools since its creation in 2011. The funds go to school resource rooms to cover the gap in funding for food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and even gas to help parents get their kids to school and cooking equipment so families can prepare healthy meals. MOR also accepts donations of new or lightly used clothing, shoes and school supplies and stores them in their office at 1610 South 3rd St. West, Suite 201, for family resource staff members, teachers and principals to take as needed. Winter coats, snow pants, snow boots, gym shoes, and new socks and underwear are especially needed. The specialty running store, Runner’s Edge, has generously donated new gym shoes to kids who never dreamed of owning their own.
MOR4Kids biggest source of funds come from Diamonds and Denim and MOR’s annual golf tournament scheduled for June 25, 2015. The organization also accepts monetary donations through the MOR website.
MOR and MBIA are accepting donations for auction items. Please fill out the donation form if you are interested in this great marketing opportunity for a worthy cause. Get creative and donate homemade holiday items, a dinner party, a gift basket or artwork. Donate a weekend at your vacation house, an afternoon on the river or professional services. Gift cards to retail stores, restaurants, movie theatres, the spa or a round of golf are also appreciated. If you need someone to pick up your donation or you would like to volunteer for the event please contact Tara Halls (531-4476), Michelle Allen (550-3747) or Julie Lynch (880-2233).
Thank you to the Realtor and building community for making this event a success. Will you wear denim or diamonds on November 14?
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Eva Dunn-Froebig is an active member of the community and the Communications Director at the Missoula Organization of Realtors. She has worked and volunteered for several membership organizations during her 15 years in Missoula, including Run Wild Missoula, the Missoula Art Museum and La Leche League of Missoula.