LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
You’re sitting at a table in a restaurant, and the waitress tells you, “That will be 50 cents for a glass, 75 cents for a fork, 25 cents for a napkin and 50 cents to have your food brought to you. And, by the way, if you leave the table at any time during the meal, you’ll be required to pay a dollar to get your seat back.”
Not the typical restaurant?
Maybe not, but for 310 Air Force, Army and community attendees at the 23rd Annual Celebrity Luncheon April 12 it was part of the fun-filled, fund-raising chaos to prevent child abuse.
Each year, Langley joins with local military installations and members of the community for a few hours of fundraising challenges, a silent auction and a meal to remember.
“All of the money raised by table challenges and money taken in from dinner guests goes to the Hampton Child Protection Team to help prevent child abuse. It’s all in good fun for the kids,” said Master Sgt. Greg Wilson, 1st Medical Operations Squadron first sergeant.
While the servers ran about frantically bartering with their guests, tables bribe each other to do silly stunts on stage for the sake of the children.
The host for this year’s event was Roger Brown, former defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams pro-football team and current owner of the Roger Brown Sports Bar in Portsmouth.
“I know everybody’s money is floating loosely today,” Mr. Brown said. “So, I want everyone to challenge anyone with everything.”
This year, the Langley representatives were right in the middle of the action with everything from Lt. Col. Wanda Davies, Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center, doing the chicken dance to Col. Kory Cornum, 1st Medical Group commander, sending out cow calls.
“It’s nice to see the military branches act silly amongst each other,” said Libby Kendrick, USO Hampton Roads, with a laugh.
Following the challenges, the HCPT awarded grants to several present organizations, including Langley’s Family Advocacy Office and the First Sergeant’s Association, who each received $1,000. In all, the team awarded $6,500 in grants.
After tabulating the funds raised from the silent auction, the server’s tips and bartering and the table challenges, approximately $10,000 was raised for child abuse prevention efforts.
“Thank you all for coming out and spending your money for such a wonderful cause,” said Eva Granville, HCPT president. “It was definitely not a one-man show. Congratulate yourselves for your efforts.”