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Furman University
Younts Conference Center
November 7th at 6 PM
An Evening with Purpose
Join us for the Greenville Benefit Auction, a thoughtfully curated evening bringing together community, generosity, and celebration in support of Make-A-Wish South Carolina. Guests will enjoy live and silent auctions, elevated hors d’oeuvres, music, and meaningful moments throughout the night.
Ticket sales open September 1. We invite you to save the date and be part of an evening that creates lasting impact for local children and families.
NOTIFY ME WHEN TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE
Partner with us to bring joy, hope, and encouragement to children facing critical illnesses.
Whether your business is looking to give back, gain visibility, or make a meaningful community investment, sponsorship is a powerful way to get involved.
We offer three levels of partnership—Presenting Sponsor, Event Partner, and Table Sponsor.
Complete the form below, and we’ll share full sponsorship details and next steps.
BECOME A SPONSOR
What We’re Looking For
We welcome items of every kind, including:
• Sporting event tickets
• Vacation homes, lodging packages, or travel experiences
• High-value jewelry or luxury accessories
• Local and regional restaurant or shopping gift cards
• Beauty, spa, fitness, coaching, and wellness services
• Outdoor adventure packages
• Home, lifestyle, or specialty products
• Business services, workshops, or memberships
• Any unique product or experience tied to your business
How to Submit Your Item
Please send:
• Item description + estimated retail value
• Any usage details or restrictions
• Donor name (business or household)
• Preference for live vs. silent auction (optional)
• Delivery or pickup instructions
DONATE AN AUCTION ITEM
IMPACT STORY
Over the past two years, Samantha Burgess has been building something meaningful in Greenville — not just an event, but a tradition of generosity, storytelling, and community impact.
It began with a dream to bring people together for a purpose bigger than ourselves.
In 2024, the inaugural Big Money Cares Charity Gala was held at Hotel Hartness. The evening featured a live auction and incredible community energy, ultimately raising $32,000 in support of Isaiah 117 House — a local nonprofit serving children as they enter the foster care system. That night, Greenville rallied to make sure every child in transition felt seen, valued, and supported.
Momentum continued to grow.
In 2025, the second annual event expanded to the historic Poinsett Club and introduced both a silent and live auction. With extraordinary participation from donors, sponsors, and businesses across the Upstate, the gala raised $153,000 benefiting Make-A-Wish South Carolina — helping grant life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses. Families across our state felt the impact.
Now, a new chapter begins.
In 2026, the tradition evolves into the Greenville Benefit Auction — a dynamic, community-driven event focused on raising even more support and awareness for Make-A-Wish South Carolina. With a goal of $200,000, this year’s vision is bold: to unite local businesses, families, and leaders in a night of generosity, excitement, and memorable giving.
From a single event to a citywide effort, the mission remains the same:
Bring people together.
Amplify hope.
Create lasting impact — one wish, one child, one family at a time.
258 Wishes Granted Together with donors and volunteers, we granted 258 wishes in fiscal year 2024 (September 2024 - August 2025).
Heartfelt Wishes
Wishes are as unique as the child making the request but typically fall within one of five categories: to have, to be, to go, to meet or to give.
Average Cost
We consider a wish fully funded at $7,500 in S.C.
ABOUT
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Make-A-Wish® is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 58 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, and 40 international affiliates on 6 continents. Make-A-Wish South Carolina was incorporated in 1984, and with community support has granted more than 4,500 wishes to children with critical illnesses throughout all 46 counties of the state.
Critical illnesses make kids feel vulnerable and isolated. Their health battles are often traumatic, stealing their childhood, increasing fears and stripping away their sense of normalcy. A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more resilient and better able to fight hard against their illness. For many of them, a wish marks a turning point in their fight against their illness.
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Wish Year 2024-2025 QUICK FACTS
The Greenville Benefit Auction is built through community, generosity, and meaningful partnerships. Whether you’re interested in attending, sponsoring, donating an auction item, or learning more about our mission, we’d love to hear from you.
For all inquiries, please reach out at
auction@samanthaburgess.com
We look forward to connecting and building something impactful together.
CONNECT WITH US
