Published: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 06:24 PM
‘Jailbirds' donate bail to worthy cause
FORT MILL TOWNSHIP --
More than 60 local business owners and community leaders were placed under “arrest” Wednesday, but it was all in good fun and for a good cause.
The jailbirds were part of a Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser at Carolina Hyundai. Each volunteer was “arrested” at his or her office and brought to Carolina Hyundai, where they were given a cell phone and asked to raise as much money for their “bail” as possible, with all proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The atmosphere at the Carolina Hyundai “jail” was far from the gloom you might see in a real jail cell. Approximately 20 people at a time were arrested every hour throughout the day. The crowd enjoyed coffee and food from BacInTyme Coffee Café and Q-4-U BBQ of Lake Wylie, all while they worked the phones to raise as much money as possible for the MDA.
Jim Gottmann, owner of Alltech Sign and Service, said he was asked to participate in the fundraiser and jumped at the opportunity. As Gottman worked the phones raising money, bells chimed all around him, ringing whenever someone received a donation of more than $25.
“I'm having a blast,” Gottmann said. “Just talking to people and it's good to help out.”
Bill Belchee, of Beacon Small Business Solutions, was “arrested” by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at 10 a.m. at his office. At 10:30 he was still making calls to friends and family, hoping to raise money for the cause.
“No money yet,” Belchee said. “But I will. I'm calling in favors.”
After an hour, the first round of jailbirds turned in the bail they collected. They were released, and another crowd of jailbirds arrived.
This is the first year Carolina Hyundai has hosted the event. All of the money will stay locally, to help families in Fort Mill Township touched by muscular dystrophy.
“We like to think of it as a social event during the day,” said Angela Brienzo with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The MDA is the nonprofit group dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding research. The group also provides healthcare, support services, advocacy and education.
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