Cornell University Athletics

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell's Student-Athlete Advisory Council held its third annual Date Auction on Monday, Dec. 7, at The Nines Restaurant in Collegetown. More than $1,500 was raised for the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family and the Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard programs.

The Date Auction was a huge success this year thanks to many Big Red athletes and non-athletes alike! The event was so successful that The Nines reached maximum capacity (150 people) shortly after the event started. The Date Auction saw 66 of Cornell’s very own Big Red athletes from 22 different varsity sports up for grabs to the “highest bidder,” generally a friend or a teammate, or maybe even a secret admirer. Gymnast Irene Leung and wrestler Warner Phipps, the two entertaining auctioneers, narrated (and even made up) each athlete’s individual “bio”, consisting of things like their name, sport, likes, dislikes, and perfect date. T-shirts were given to bidders who bid over $30 on their Big Red date, and a “lunch date basket” (with movie tickets, a CTB gift card, and popcorn) was awarded to the highest bidder of the night, which was a joint effort by the track team with a whopping $85. Along with amusing bios and comical retorts from Leung and Phipps, some of the athletes themselves went above and beyond, creating dances, dressing up in costumes with teammates, and just plain putting on a good old show for all of The Nines to watch.

This entertaining display of talents, combined with the large number of generous athlete and non-athlete bidders in the audience, proved to be the reason for the Date Auction’s huge monetary success this year – just over $1500 was raised for Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family and the Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard. All of these proceeds have gone into purchasing clothes, gifts, toys, and food for families that otherwise would not have gotten such gifts this holiday season. All in all, the Date Auction was a huge success and lots of fun, filled with laughs, hugs, and maybe even the start of some future Big Red romance. Thanks to everyone who helped out and made the event such a success!

- Cassie Walisiak, Liz Walker, Kim Lienhoop, Beth Halayko