Childhaven and the Seattle Seahawks will team up once again for their annual “Tackle Child Abuse” Dinner and Auction, a November fundraising gala benefitting Childhaven’s programs for abused and neglected children.
This year’s event – featuring backup quarterback Seneca Wallace and retired Seahawk and NFL Pro Bowler Mack Strong and his wife, Zoë – is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE.
Attendees will have the chance to bid on live, “almost-live” and silent auction items, with all proceeds going to Childhaven, a 100-year-old nonprofit that provides therapeutic child care and other services to help young children and families in King County struggling with abuse and neglect.
Since the first auction in 2002, the Seattle Seahawks have partnered with Childhaven in presenting the event, with Newcastle residents Mack and Zoë Strong coming back year after year to lend their support as honorary co-chairs.
The auction doubles as an honorary event to recognize each season’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, voted on by Seahawks players and presented to a teammate who exemplifies courage and sportsmanship and serves as an inspiration to his teammates both on and off the field.
Since 1984, the award has been given to a player from every NFL team with an accompanying benefit event to support a local “Courage House” – a nonprofit that works to prevent child abuse.
Chairing the auction will be Wallace, the Seahawks’ recipient in 2007 of the Ed Block Courage Award. This year’s recipient will be announced at the event.
“We are very grateful for the Seahawks and their support,” said Childhaven President Debra Ronnholm. “When our community comes together for this event, we do more than just raise money. We save lives.”
In King County alone, authorities investigate almost 10,000 cases of child abuse and neglect each year. Childhaven, which began in 1909 as Seattle Day Nursery, is the only nonprofit organization in the county specifically dedicated to breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect and healing its very youngest victims.
The auction – which is supported by presenting sponsor Moneytree and silver sponsor Clearwire – has sold out the last few years and this year will be held in the newly expanded Hyatt Regency Bellevue. An additional 50,000 square feet of event space will allow attendance to grow and provide more room for silent auction items, say organizers.
Among the experiences to be auctioned are:
First-class airfare, hotel and VIP tickets to “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in New York City;
Private dinner for 10 prepared by renowned Seattle chef, restaurateur and author Tom Douglas;
A Yakima River guided fly-fishing trip for four hosted by former Seattle Seahawk and NFL Pro Bowler Robbie Tobeck, with an overnight stay and wine dinner at Canyon River Ranch Lodge;
Tickets to 2010 Winter Olympics events, including the men’s speed-skating and ski-jumping finals.
VIP tickets are $300 each and provide a special reception with Seahawks players. Regular tickets are $150 each.
For more information and to register, visit the Web site at www.childhaven.org/auction or call or e-mail 206-957-4806 or erniel@childhaven.org.
