File Photo/Margate Business Association to host its annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser, Wednesday, April 10 at Steve & Cookies By the Bay.
MARGATE - The Margate Business Association will host its 17th annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 at Steve & Cookies By the Bay. The year, the MBA is tapping into new technology that will raise funds virtually, with an online bidding system that is accessible from any digital platform, mobile tablet or desktop.
Traditionally, the event would sell paper tickets for auction items, but with this new online registration system, no paper tickets are necessary.
The event raises raise funds through live and silent auctions held at the event and hosted by local real estate broker Lou Solomon and Diane Mitchell of the Mike & Diane Morning show on 95.1 WAYV. But with the One Cause app, supporters don't have to be present to bid on auction items.
Instead bidders can browse all auction items online ahead of time, scope out what they would like to bid on, and at the appropriate time, attendees and those not able to attend, can bid in real-time using the online app.
Paula Hartman of Hartman Home Team of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Fox and Roach Realtors and co-chairwoman of the event, sees the technology as a game-changer.
People are so accustomed to doing everything from their smart phones, that this just seems like the natural evolution in event marketing," Hartman said.
Regardless if you attend the event or not, One Cause makes the entire process easier for people to bid on items and pay for them safely online, she said.
One Cause, a third-party company that hosts the mobile bidding technology, helps cause-driven organizations amplify their messages and raise more funds with the easy-to-use fundraising platform.
MBA member Cookie Till, owner of Steve & Cookie's By the Bay, was impressed to see the app in action at another event.
After experiencing the ease of use during the Dancing Under the Atlantic City Stars' event, I was hooked," Till said. I mean, if I can do it, you can do it.
The MBA is offering another incentive for people to attend the event with the addition of mocktails.
Steve and Cookie's will be sampling interesting and tasty bar drinks that are minus the alcohol," Till said. "We are currently working with a product called Seedlip. It is botanicals that have been distilled, but there is no remaining alcohol in it.
The event features delicious food from Steve & Cookie's, chocolates from Jagelky's, along with wine, spirits and beer tastings, and the music of Mas Tequila Orchestra.
Over the years, the wine tasting event has provided more than $100,000 in scholarships for Margate students and the MBA's Children's Fund, which provides warm clothing, school supplies, food, summer camp for latch key children, toys and more.
Buy tickets or learn more at MargateHasMore.com or on the new Catch the Margate Wave app debuting this spring.
