Bunny in the City: Hammond for Hope helping Savannah speak, hear
The 35th annual Hammond for Hope Dinner and Auction to benefit the Savannah Speech & Hearing Center's Sound Start School was held at Hope Point Plantation on Sept. 18.
Weaving past waterways and marshes in his golf cart, Larry Cooper is "styling and profiling" as he escorts me to the Mercer House and front lawn that is decorated with a massive white tent, bartending stations and an elegant sitting area complete with an antique sofa, chair and table.
I hear the unmistakable sounds of steel drums courtesy of the fabulous Melvin Dean and see the Savannah Auction Exchange team headed toward the gardens.
After a fierce hug from Melvin, Salynda Carter-Walter happily shares that she and Michael Wedincamp are co-hosting tonight's auction before introducing me to chef Tim Filgate, the chef here at the plantation.
While Tim is sharing his auction item of an overnight stay, private dinner and wine sommelier, dapper Michael arrives and poses for a pic. Teasing the SAE auctioneer on his recent purchase of a 1948 tugboat that weighs in at 80,000 pounds and is 50 feet long, I insist on an invite to his country getaway to see his 1974 fire truck and 8-foot-tall plaster stegosaurus.
Another captivating person on the Savannah scene is recently retired Pastor Enoch Hendry. Reluctant to pose, he cheerfully volunteers Memorial Day School's headmaster, Mike Harper, with his lovely wife, Debbie, and fellow MDS Director of Operations Diane Barefield and her "always happy to harass me" husband, Marlon.
After years of wanting to have his picture in the SMN, I assure Marlon that this is his week, it's finally going to happen for the International Paper finance fellow before walking over to see one of the most gorgeous ladies in town, Cathy Nelson.
As one of the respected speech language pathologists at SSHC, Cathy insists that I meet some the children she works with. First up is little man Bubba Boatwright, who is content posing with Cathy and Tracy Edenfield before smiling in a mini photo session with his mom and dad, Alyssa and Steve.
Next, Larry, a manager for the Skidaway Island Publix, pulls his wife, Chrissy, down for a photo with daughter Alayna.
With the sun setting over the golden marsh, I hit warp speed and snap pics of Spotted photographer Shelly Mobley with her brother Barry Mitchell, happy Savannahians Edgar and Anne Smith followed by the best pic of the night with the Rawls and Wheeler family.
As beautiful Beth McIntosh, the executive director for the SSHC, leads me into the silent auction headquarters to introduce me to artist Janice Dominy and Dvora Gottlieb, I hear a familiar voice from St. Vincent's Academy.
Nancy Shreck has chased me down! I listen, fascinated, as she tells of how she had direct contact with the ghost of Blackbeard's mistress: "I was talking with Beth when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder, I turned around to look - there is no one there."
Having heard this property is haunted, I head outside for a chance to meet a phantom spirit when I see my favorite person of the night - Ray McDonald. The Savannah native tells me how he and his sons enjoy the "trifecta of fishing, hunting and sports" when I see Chris Hammond.
Hating to leave Ray and interrupt Chris, I tiptoe over, pause the HFH chairman and quickly learn, "About 35 years ago, Hammond for Hope was created to help support education for children with hearing loss. The foundation continues to support their efforts and we are kicking off our campaign to raise $900,000 to grow and improve the Savannah Speech & Hearing Center."
With a local center that helps children who are deaf, adults who need hearing aids, children with cleft palates, adults with difficulty swallowing, and cochlear implant testing and hearing screening for the school system, this small center on 66th Street has touched more than 10,000 clients and patients.
Please join me in a standing ovation for the folks resonating with purpose, bursting with pride and who are quietly changing communication in the Lowcountry.
Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com.
