26th Annual Party and Auction

Meet us at the Market! Join Bethesda Project at Reading Terminal Market for our 26th Annual Party & Auction!

Save the date for May 19, 2023, at 7pm and join us for an unforgettable evening in one of Philadelphia's most famous spaces. All are invited to celebrate with us as we honor our Bethesda Project history, the accomplishments we have shared as a community, and toast to our future! All funds raised from this event allows Bethesda Project to provide emergency shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

 View our Virtual Program Book

 Raffle Winners:

50/50 Raffle - Susan Glessner-Stickely

YPAB Health & Wellness Basket - Janice Wong

YPAB Beer & Wine Basket - James Campbell 

Wesley R. Payne, IV is a partner in the Litigation Department of White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia, PA with 35 years of jury trial experience representing insureds and insurers in first and third-party litigation matters. Mr. Payne writes and lectures on bad faith, extra-contractual damages, coverage, and civil litigation issues.  He is a contributing chapter author for the Pennsylvania Civil Pre-Trial Practice Manual, Pennsylvania Civil Trial Practice Manual, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Civil Practice Manual and served on the advisory board for the Ohlbaum on the Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence. Mr. Payne serves as a Judge Pro Tem for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He is active in the leadership of several bar associations, civic and pro bono boards. Mr. Payne served as the 95th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and as President and/or Co-President of organizations such as Bethesda Project, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, and Conference of County Bar Leaders.  He has received several acknowledgements for his work with these and other organizations.  Mr. Payne is AV Preeminent Peer Rated Attorney by Martindale Hubbell, a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, a selectee to the City and State 2022 Law Power 100 and selectee to the 2022 City and State Philly Power 100.  He received his B.A. cum laude from Washington Lee University in 1985 and his J.D. in 1988 from the University of Maryland School of Law, where he served as the President of the Student Bar Association. 

Cherri Gregg is the afternoon drive host/news anchor and co-host of the daily news show Studio 2 on WHYY. Prior to her current position, the award winning journalist covered civil rights, social justice, race and public affairs issues impacting marginalized communities in the Greater Philadelphia region, spending nearly a decade on air at KYW Newsradio. She served as the station's Community Affairs reporter and was the creator, host and executive producer of the weekly, syndicated radio show and podcast, Flashpoint with Cherri Gregg. Under her leadership, the show earned two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, an NABJ Salute to Excellence Award for Best Podcast and a Pennsylvania Bar Association Media Award all in 2021.  Cherri, who is also a licensed attorney, is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Law & Justice Journalism Project, a non-profit focused on shifting the journalism narrative around public safety, crime and justice.  Cherri is a past president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.

IG/Twitter: @cherrigregg 

St. Norbert Parish is a vibrant, thriving Catholic community that seeks to foster a deep and personal encounter with Jesus. Located in Paoli, PA, St. Norbert's strives to provide a welcoming community where people belong and grow together in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Our mission: To be anchored in growing deeper, wider, and building a culture of servant leadership fostered through an exceptional Sunday experience. By serving in ministry and mission, such as The Bethesda Project, St. Norbert's encourages parishioners to grow deeper in their faith.

Help us 'tend' to our Giving Garden! With each donation made to support Bethesda Project, you help make an impact in the lives of thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness each year. Much like a garden, this investment cultivates the necessary resources and support that provides guests and residents with shelter, housing, case management, and more.

Learn more about how your impact makes a difference and then click on "Items" on the top bar of this page to make your investment in the Giving Garden.

What is the Party & Auction?
The 26th Annual Party & Auction is a night to remember that supports the life-changing work of Bethesda Project and the thousands of Philadelphians experiencing homelessness that we serve. The silent auction goes live online May 5th at Noon EST. 

What can I expect with the new venue change?
You can expect to have an unforgettable evening in the name of a charitable cause! Seize the opportunity to view the market without crowds, interact with a select number of vendors, and feast on a selection of Philly's finest eats. View a menu map here.

How do I get to the venue?  
Reading Terminal Market is easily accessible by SEPTA Regional Rail, Bus, Broad Street Line, and Market-Frankford Line. If you're driving, parking is free of charge at Hilton Garden Inn Parking Garage on 11th & Arch St.  

How can I sponsor the event?
We have a number of different levels of sponsorship that helps support our programs and services to assist people experiencing homelessness. For our sponsorship packet, please click here. To sponsor the event, please visit our sponsorship page.

How do I place a bid on an item? 
View items through either the link at the top ("Items") or the Browse, Bid, & Buy section ("View Items"). After registering, click on the item that you're interested in bidding on, and follow the prompts to place your bid! Winners will automatically be notified via text message when the silent auction closes. Individuals need not be present to win! 

Why enter my mobile number when I bid? 
By entering your number, you'll get alerts when you're outbid, so you can go back and bid on that item to be sure you win! You'll also receive an alert if you have the winning bid when the auction closes.  

Entering your mobile number is also crucial if you are attending the event for ensuring check-in and check-out run smoothly. 

How can I continue to support Bethesda Project? 
There are many ways to support Bethesda Project's mission all year long! Visit our Other Ways to Give and Volunteer pages for more information. 

What is the dress code? 
The event is informal and the dress code is "business casual." 

Have a question not listed here? Email us! 

Sponsorship, item donation, and event questions: [email protected]

Media inquiries and communications: [email protected]