by Odette Houghton, Medical Student Alumni Council

Four Charleston charities were honored at a luncheon held at the Sebring-Aimar House on April 8. Checks totaling $17,300 were presented to representatives from Crisis Ministries, Sue Kuhlens' Camp for Kids, Catholic Charities and Center for Women.

The proceeds were raised at the College of Medicine's 11th annual Charity Ball at Hibernian Hall on Feb. 28. More than 500 faculty, residents, administration, staff, students and parents enjoyed an evening of dancing to the band “Visions” and fine dining by Renaissance.

A popular element of the evening was the silent auction, featuring more than 360 items with a total value of more than $31,000. Items auctioned included dinner cruises, overnight lodging at hotels, flying lessons, scuba diving sessions, rejuvenating facials, dinners at local restaurants, jewelry and golf packages.

In order to duly recognize the beneficence of donors and businesses, their names were displayed beside each item. The item which earned the highest bid of $600 was one night of bartending by the dean of the College of Medicine, Layton McCurdy, M.D.

The Charity Ball is the joint endeavor of the College of Medicine Student Council and the Medical Student Alumni Council (MSAC). The Student Council, together with the Office of Student Programs, is responsible for ticket sales, catering, decorations and the band. The Medical Student Alumni Council and the Alumni Office coordinates the Silent Auction.

Every year MSAC members venture out into the Charleston business community to solicit items for the auction. Each MSAC member spends an average of 20 hours collecting donations, in addition to the time devoted to setting up and managing the auction that evening. The efforts of these medical students and the benevolence of donors proved to be worthwhile, when MUSC was able to benefit four charities.

Again, thank you to all the members of MSAC, the College of Medicine Student Council, the Office of Alumni Affairs, the Office of Student Programs, local businesses and donors whose hard work and generosity allowed this year's Charity Ball and Silent Auction to be such a success.

A special thanks to the businesses and individuals who contributed items and money for the Charity Ball/Silent Auction

Tis the Season; 19 King Collections for Women; 360 Communications; 82 Queen; 96 Wave; Acquisitions; Advanced Cellular; Alana Bell Gallery; Aloha Natural Foods; Alpha Pets; Alterman Studios; Ameraguard; Anchorage Inn; Andolinis Pizza; Angie Bauer at Salon 102; Ann Taylor; Applebees Restaurant; Aqua Safaris Inc.; Aqua Ventures; Arrow Cleaners; Ashley Inn; Ashley Lanes; Barree Station; Beadstreet; Beaumonts Cafe & Bar; Berlins For Men; Bilo, Birds I View; Black Market Minerals; Bleeker Street Bagelry; Bob Ellis; Bold Creations Salon; Bonnie Cohn & Co.; Books-A-Million; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Brix, Broad St. Barber Shop; Bruce Easterling; Cannonboro Inn Bed & Breakfast; Captain Wallace Burbage; Carmike Cinemas-James Island; Carolina Clipper; Carolina Prints; Carolina Rod & Gun; Carolina Wine & Cheese; Carolinas Restaurant; Celias Porta Via; Cellular One; Chapter II Bookstore; Charles Tumbleston Photography; Charleston Carriage Co.; Charleston Crab House; Charleston Frame Works & Gallery; Charleston Harbor; Hilton Resort at Patriots Point; Charleston Lady Gallery; Charleston Memories; Charleston Municipal Golf Course; Charleston Place, Charleston Riverdogs; Charleston Scuba; Charleston Sports Pub & Grill; Charleston Symphony Orchestra; Charlestowne Landing; Chef & Clef Restaurant; Cherrie Nute Gallery; Chili Chompers; Church Street Inn; Clarion Town House Hotel; Climbing Bear; Coffee Beanery Ltd.; College of Charleston Sailing; Comcast Cable; Coosaw Creek Country Club; Copper Penny; Croghans Jewel Box; Cross Seed Co.; Darlene Smith -Beachside Real Estate; Dashboard Stereo; David & Jennifer Duralia; Dr. & Mrs. Victor Del Bene; Dr. Carol Savage; Dr. Jane Upshur; Dr. Layton McCurdy; Dr. Robert E. Holman; Dunes West Golf Club; Eagle Landing Golf Club; East Bay Cleaners; Easterling Furniture; Elliot House Inn; Elliotts on the Square; Elvitas; Esat Bay Gallery; Especially Yours; Fischers Art & Frame; Folly Road Furniture; Footlight Players Theatre; Forum Limousine; Fox Music House; Frames Unlimited; Frametastic; Fred Astaire Dance Studio; Ft. Sumter Tours Inc.; Fulton Lane Inn; General Nutrition Center—Downtown; Geo. C. Birlant & Co.; Gibbes Museum of Art Gift Shop; Gilroys Pizza Pub; Glaxo-Wellcome; Graham & Co Hair Designs; Granger Owings; Green Lion; Gwynns of Mt Pleasant; Hampton Inn—Historic District; Handpicked Jewelry; Harris Teeter—James Island; Hawthorne Suites; Hay Tire; Historic Charleston Foundation; Holiday Inn - Mt Pleasant; Holiday Inn Riverview; Hollipops; Huguleys; Idas Salon; Innovative Business Systems; Island Styling Hair Design, J. Bigda Antiques, Jack Patla Company; Jackson Davenport Vision; James Island County Park; Jane Hope; Jeannie Drucker Galleries; Jenny Stone; Jestines Kitchen; Jim Booth Art Gallery; Jordan Medical & Co.; Juanita Greenbergs Burrito Palace; Jungle Gym; Kandlestix; Keepsakes Florist; Kelly Green; Kinkos of West Ashley; LaLa Lucci; Le Creuset of America; Lee Nails; LeRoys Jewelers; Lining House Inc.; Lodge Alley Inn; Long Island Cafe; Louie & Sons Body Shop; Louis Tanenbaum Clothiers; Louiss Charleston Restaurant; Loy Harn Jewelers; M. Dumas & Sons; Magnolias/Blossom Cafe; Mail Boxes Etc.; Mark Barnes; Market Street Munchies; Maxs Mens Store; Middleton Inn; Milagro; Moore; House Antiques; Moose Mountain; Movies at Mt. Pleasant; MUSC Alumni Association; MUSC SGA; MUSC Wellness Center; National Tire & Battery; Nations Bank Professional & Executive Banking; Noahs Nook; Norwalk Furniture; Office Depot; Old South Carriage Co.; Olde Towne Carriage Co.; Opus Hair Salon; Outer Vision; Pack Rat Self Storage; Palmetto Air Service; Palmetto Carriage Works; Papillon; Paradise Computers; Patriots Point Links; Patterson Music; Paul Ayers; Pear Tree Toys; Peddlers Porch; Pelican Food Systems; Peter Banis Shoes; Photo Express; Piccolo Hair Salon; Planters Inn/Peninsula Grill; Poogans Porch; Pratt-Thomas; Gumb & Co.; Prints Charming; Pro Golf of Charleston; Quarterdeck Apartments; Q-Zar, Reubens; Rhetts Italian Ice Cafe; Rick Hendrick Cheverolet/Geo; Riverrun; Robinsons Bicycle Shop; Roses Crafts & Things; Roxy Cinema; Royall Ace Hardware; Royall Ace Hardware; Salon V; Saracen Restaurant; SC Dept of Natural Resources; Schaeffer Eyeworks; Schooner Pride Ltd.; Seels Outboard; Sheryl Self; Sidney F. Thomas; Skatells Manufacturing Jewelers; Skin Therapy Center; Sofa Super Store; South End Brewery & Smokehouse, Southern Bartending Services, Southern Touch; Southern Wine & Spirits; Spoleto; Stella Nova Spa/Salon; Steven Jordan Gallery; Strobler & Co.; Studio 921 Hair Design; Sugar Plantation; Super Petz; Surcies by Jody; Susans Hair Studio; Swans LA Expressions; Talbots; Teddy Books; The Bicycle Shoppe; The Boutique; The Bubble Room; The Clothes Horse; The Dog Pound; The Firm; The Foot Store; The Frame-Up; The Francis Marion Hotel; The Griffon; The Harley Shop; The Hominy Grill; The Match Box; The Mills House Hotel; The Mustard Seed; The Post & Courier; The Purple Plum; The Red Torii; The Scratch Pad; The Surcie Shop; Tidal Wave Runners; Tidwell Slavens Gallery; Tiger Lily; Tradd Street Press; Urban Cotton, Vickerys; Village Jeweler; Vincenzos; VirginiaFouche Bolton Gallery; Waccamaw; WCIV Channel 4; West Ashley Toyota; Wild Wing Cafe; Wonderworks; Zebo Restaurant & Brewery. Thanks to the following money contributers: T. & L. Brothers; W. A. Lawton Jr.; M Anderson; R. Crouch; D. & K. Fernandes; J. Maize; Dr. J & Mrs A. Edwards; S & B. Smith; P & M. Cotton; Dr. W. Rambo; S & P Pai; Dr & Mrs W. Creaseman; J & K Thompson; J & E. Iannini; R. Hardin; Dr. K Schwarzenberger; M. Swindle; K. & Alec Chessman; Dr. W. & Mrs V. Barnwell.