Birds and Brunch at Hotel Bennett raises over $154K

BIRDS AND BRUNCH AT THE BENNETT RESULTS IN SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS RAISED TO SUPPORT AVIAN SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND BEYOND

The Avian Conservation Center’s fall fundraiser was hosted at Hotel Bennett on Sunday, October 27, 2019, and resulted in $154,940 in funds raised

• The Center received record-breaking results and raised $154,940;
• Hotel Bennett provided a beautiful and enjoyable backdrop for this sold-out event;
• Funds raised will be used to continue the Center’s focused work in avian science, medicine, and conservation.

CHARLESTON, SC – For more than 28 years, the Avian Conservation Center has been a quiet yet persistent advocate for avian science, medicine, and conservation in South Carolina and this year they experienced their most successful fundraiser in the history of the organization. Branded as Birds & Brunch at the Bennett, this sold-out event was an inspiring conservation-themed program hosted at Hotel Bennett in downtown Charleston and resulted in $154,940 in funds to support the Center’s ongoing work. With views extending across Marion Square and décor that includes hand-painted murals of birds, Hotel Bennett, downtown Charleston’s newest luxury hotel, was an incredible backdrop for this purposeful brunch experience. Lead sponsors of this event included Benefitfirst, The Boeing Company, Coastal Expeditions, Compass Rose Business Finance, and Equity, and Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP.

Birds and Brunch at the Bennett was a historic success for the Center with an incredibly active live and silent auction, and a great deal of attendee participation and interaction inspired by the expert encouragement of auctioneer and Master of Ceremonies, Erin Kienzle. Special guest speakers from the Center’s “Year of the Bird” program at Cainhoy Elementary spoke eloquently about the profound way this experience changed students and the Cainhoy community. During this truly poignant moment, teacher Ashley Illig and one of her former students each described the impact of the Center’s educational outreach from a personal and heartfelt perspective, and many brunch guests were moved to tears by their emotional presentation.

The event took place in the Crown Ballroom where guests enjoyed a delicious brunch menu and bar with a variety of mini quiches, fresh fruit, shrimp and grits, and Mimosas, Bloody Marys and more. A lively jazz trio sponsored by The Commodore, a historic downtown Charleston jazz club, was the perfect addition to this spirited event adding a lovely musical flow to the day. Both the live and silent auctions were extremely well-appointed with an array of unique curated items and experiences to bid upon. Auction items included an exclusive chef dinner and distilled spirits tasting experience at Firefly Distillery’s brand-new facility on Noisette Creek, an original painting of a Saker Falcon from world-renowned wildlife artist Tim Donovan, a one-of-a-kind shadow-box mounted Male Greater Argus Feather, an expert-guided private native plant/bird walk for 20 at an historic unspoiled ACE Basin property, a long weekend for up to nine people at a newly renovated luxurious mountain cabin in Hendersonville, a brand new sit on top kayak and paddle from Half-Moon Outfitters, a gorgeous his and hers formal accessory set from Brackish, a hand-hewn table from Landrum Tables made from reclaimed dockwood and pine, a sophisticated cloche hat from Carolina Millenary, a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Auldbrass Plantation from the Beaufort Open Land Trust, and a hand-forged “MeMa” ladle from Waller Handmade.

The event held many special opportunities to embrace the beauty and majesty of nature’s apex avian predators. Upon arrival guests were greeted by a Harris Hawk in flight from the hotel’s piazza overlooking Marion Square and a multitude of birds were presented on the fist by the Center’s trained Volunteer Staff inside the hotel and throughout the program. With the help of Center Volunteer Staff, guests event got to take “raptor selfies” with a striking bird of prey in front of the hotel’s hand-painted bird murals. At the end of the program, the winner of the raffle was selected, Lynn Murray, who won a private “Birds, Brews, & Brunch” event for 40 at the Center that will include a catered brunch buffet and beer samples from six of Charleston’s best craft beer producers.

The Center remains humbled by the support of the community including every donor, sponsor, the guest, raffle ticket buyer, and volunteer who made this event a reality. They are looking at the next 28 years with optimism for the advancement of avian science and conservation and encourage others who are passionate about these topics to join them in this important work. You can do so by joining as a member, participating in their educational programs and special events, or by donating your time and talent as a volunteer.

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About the Avian Conservation Center

The Avian Conservation Center is a distinctive regional conservation organization with three primary operating divisions: the Center for Birds of Prey, the Avian Medical Clinic, and the South Carolina Oiled Bird Treatment Facility. As an environmental education asset to South Carolina and the region, the Center for Birds of Prey presents conservation and STEAM education for more than 40,000 individuals and students each year. An epicenter for professional medical services and research pertaining to wild birds of prey and shorebirds, the Avian Medical Clinic has treated more than 10,000 patients since opening in 1991. The South Carolina Oiled Bird Response Facility is held in a constant state of preparedness for response to an oil spill in the region including ongoing oil spill response training and maintaining the readiness of treatment facilities and emergency response supplies. The Center can be found online at www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org and can be reached by phone at 843.971.7474.