Bartenders, Boxers & Briefs. . .oh my! Three of our favorite things will come together in an underwear auction in this annual fundraiser for Tuesday’s Angels at Bill’s on Monday, July 18. A local non-profit, Tuesday’s Angels is a 501(c)3 organization that provides funding on an emergency basis to men, women and children with HIV/AIDS.
Don Clark, manager at Bill’s, is the man behind Bartenders, Boxers & Briefs. He’s been organizing the event for five years. Through his connections, he invites bartenders from various local bars to get on stage and auction off their skivvies for an enthusiastic crowd to bid on.
“Originally there was a Bartenders Underwear Auction for Poverello that went by the wayside,” Clark explains. “I decided to pick up the idea but changed the charity to Tuesday’s Angel’s.”
Clark explains that the reason he chose the non-profit is because of their reputation and “the fact that 100% of the money they raise goes to AIDS patients.”
Tuesday’s Angels began with a small group of men sharing a dinner on the first Tuesday of the month and the “angels” attending contributed to help HIV/AIDs clients in need. They were incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993 and now there are 400 angels involved in the non-profit. As Clark stated, one hundred percent of all dollars received by Tuesday’s Angels go directly to individuals or to selected organizations that have clients that have little or no income. And this important non-profit works quickly — with proper documentation, assistance is often given the same day.
Clark has made sure that the annual fundraiser has continued to grow through the years so that more and more money can be made for Tuesday’s Angels.
“It started with 10 bars participating in the past and now 80-percent of the gay bars in the Lauderdale area participate,” explained Clark.
The event is a big money maker.
“Our high was $20,000, but we’re hoping to beat that,” Clark said.
He said that the event is pretty straight forward and the personalities from each bar are what makes it. The auctioneers are also a big draw and they include Nikki Adams, Miss Kitty, Russell of Stable, Greg Phelps and special guest MC Toni Barone.
“Bar owners come in and compete against each other,” he said. “It’s a very friendly competition to raise money.”
All of the auctioneers are well known in the community, Clark said. The event includes the underwear auction on stage and a silent auction with exciting prizes like weekend getaways and liquor baskets and many more fun items.
“Bring an open pocketbook and come to have fun,” Clark said.
INFO:
Bartenders, Boxers, and Briefs
Monday, July 18, 8 p.m.
Bill’s
2209 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors
