ABCCM to host Transformation Celebration fundraiser Sept. 16

Press release from Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry:

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Join Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) for a fun and festive evening celebrating the transformation in our clients, residents, volunteers and community. Transformation Celebration, ABCCM’s largest fundraiser of the year, will be held on Friday, Sept. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Covenant Community Church, located at 11 Rocket Drive in Asheville. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The highlights of the evening will be a silent auction with more than 100 items donated by businesses and individuals, and a live auction during which attendees can “buy” services such as preventing an eviction, vouchers to pay utilities, scholarships for training and education courses, and baby care essentials that are crucial for our neighbors in need.

“We hear every day from our clients, residents, volunteers and staff that ABCCM has transformed their lives.

Transformation Celebration will be a delightful evening to enjoy great cuisine, discover treasures and bring joy to our neighbors through jobs, housing, and access to health care,” said Reverend Scott Rogers, ABCCM’s executive director. “Our mission is committed to filling vital gaps with housing for the homeless, medicine for the sick, food and clothes for families, and education and training for career-level jobs. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and friends in the local business community, we have some really special items for our silent auction. We invite the entire community to join us for what is sure to be a fun evening.”

Silent auction items include:

• Overnight stays in Atlanta, Charleston, Chattanooga, Gatlinburg and Orlando
• Staycations at bed-and-breakfasts and hotels in Asheville and Western North Carolina Restaurant gift certificates
• Spa and beauty treatments
• Fine artwork, crafts and pottery
• Jewelry and fashion accessories
• Theater and symphony tickets
• Furniture and home décor items
• Much, much more

Local restaurants and catering companies, including Corner Kitchen, Celine and Company Caterers, Colorful Palate Catering, Saffron Fine Foods, Looking Glass Creamery, and Roman’s, will contribute food for the event. ABCCM’s own Culinary Commandos – a group of veterans who are students in ABCCM’s culinary education partnership program with A-B Tech – will prepare a menu that includes stuffed shrimp, Buffalo wings, pulled pork sliders, Thai meatballs, crudité platters and a variety of homemade desserts. Musicians from Asheville Music School will perform.

Individual tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at www.abccm.org/celebration. Table sponsorships are available at bronze ($200), silver ($250) and gold ($300) levels and can also be purchased on the ABCCM website.

All proceeds from the evening will support ABCCM’s programs and services, and will also support Transformation Village, the largest building campaign in ABCCM’s history that in its first phase will more than triple the space ABCCM currently has for women, children and families. For more information about Transformation Village, go to www.abccm.org/transformationvillage.

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) is one of the key nonprofit organizations addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness and access to health care for the under-served in Buncombe County, serving more than 46,000 individuals in 2015. Begun as a small collaboration of churches in 1969, ABCCM has played a significant role in meeting emergency assistance needs for families in crisis, coordinating religious services and education activities at the jail, providing transitional and permanent supportive housing of the homeless through 300 beds, increasing access to health care for half the uninsured and medically underserved; as well as work readiness, mentoring and job placement services. We serve veterans across 26 WNC counties. ABCCM is generously supported by 279 congregations of all denominations and faith groups. These ministries are made possible thanks to the service of more than 5,000 trained volunteers.

ABCCM is committed to preserving the dignity of all. In accordance with state, federal, and municipal laws, ABCCM complies with these laws which preclude negative discrimination because of race, disability, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sex, national origin, military/veteran status, or any other protected classification.