NY/NJ Marriott Hotels Business Council Raised $42k for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

After stepping into the role of auction chair for the New York/New Jersey Marriott Hotels Business Council’s Annual Golf Classic, Rebecca Waite quickly turned a new responsibility into a personal mission. Drawing on a lifetime of community service and relationship building, she embraced the challenge of growing the event’s silent auction to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The New York/New Jersey Marriott Hotels Business Council Charity Golf Tournament has raised critical funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for more than a decade. The event blends competitive golf, community spirit, and a robust silent auction to make an impact for children and families in need.

Each year, the tournament brings together golfers, business leaders, and supporters for a day of competition and generosity — and under Rebecca’s leadership, the auction has become a major driver of fundraising success, blending local energy with the power of a nationwide online audience to make a greater impact for children and families in need.

With the support of FrontStream fundraising platform and the BiddingForGood community, Rebecca streamlined auction management, reached bidders nationwide, and maximized participation both on and off the golf course.

The Challenge

When Rebecca Waite first became the auction chair for the Council’s charity golf tournament benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, she brought a deep background in community service — but also faced the challenge of single-handedly running a large, high-stakes auction.

The event combined an in-person golf tournament with an online silent auction. Managing prize procurement, setting starting bids, promoting the auction, and handling bidder questions was a huge undertaking. On top of that, Rebecca wanted to make the experience simple and seamless for golfers and online bidders alike, without the old headaches of paper bid sheets, last-minute item additions, or shipping confusion.

The Solution

Rebecca turned to FrontStream’s BiddingForGood platform to simplify and scale the auction:

• Strategic Item Procurement: Rebecca set a personal goal of securing 62 prizes, leaning on her network, LinkedIn connections, and thoughtful personal outreach to secure a mix of certificates, sports memorabilia, and travel packages.
• Optimized Auction Setup: Rebecca used BiddingForGood’s built-in tools to set starting bids and bid increments, ensuring strong participation from the start.
• Expanded Reach: Rebecca opened the auction two weeks prior to the event, promoted it via email and social media to tap into networks far beyond the golfers in attendance.
• BiddingForGood Community: Rebecca leveraged BiddingForGood’s 4.4 million philanthropic shoppers, who accounted for $35,000 of the winning bids.
• On-Site Support: FrontStream staff attended the event to register bidders, send targeted text alerts, and keep auction energy high during the tournament.

The Results

Rebecca exceeded her auction goal by 20%, bringing in $42,000 in auction revenue — her personal best.

• 125 bidders came directly from the BiddingForGood community.
• $35,000 of winning bids were from supporters outside the immediate event audience.
• Auction promotion and the extended two-week bidding window attracted participation from across the United States.
• Complimentary shipping on prizes and clear prize descriptions improved bidder satisfaction and reduced questions.

Learn how Rebecca curated a diverse range of auction items that appealed to various price points. Watch the Webcast >