Champagne & Chocolate!
Champagne, Chocolate, and Cars!
Sunday, February 25, 2024, 3:00-5:00 PM
16055 North Dial Boulevard, Scottsdale
$100 presale tickets / $125 at the door / adults only
Dress: Dressy or “Roaring 20s” vintage (optional)
CES is privileged to have our annual Champagne and Chocolate benefit hosted among the stunning car collection of Janet Cussler! Enjoy champagne, chocolate, and hors d’ouevres while strolling through the amazing personal vintage car collection of Janet and her husband, famed best-selling author Clive Cussler. Their shared love of vintage automobiles resulted in this amazing assemblage of rare and vintage vehicles from all over the world - plus a couple of fire engines and a plane!
The Janet Cussler Car Collection is a timeless vault of vintage autos in an art-deco, speakeasy-style environment, exuding old-world charm and high-profile sophistication. Attendees are invited to wear “Roaring 20s” vintage dress (optional) as they stroll among the vehicle displays, while sipping champagne and listening to the live music provided by the Carolyn Eynon Singers - a teaser for the March and May concerts!
We have curated a spectacular collection of items for our silent auction. See below for a sneak peek, and check back often to see what’s new!
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please look over our sponsorship prospectus and get in touch!
According to the IRS website: “Donors who purchase items at a charity auction may claim a charitable contribution deduction for the excess of the purchase price paid for an item over its fair market value.”
All proceeds will benefit the choir. This venue allows adults only.
Reception Chair, Sherrie Bellamy; Auction Chair, Carma Paden
If you prefer to purchase via postal mail, please fill out this form and enclose it with your payment mailed to:
CES - Tickets
13802 N Scottsdale Road, Suite 151-56
Scottsdale AZ 85254-3403
Auction Preview
Current auction total: $25,190
Here’s a sneak peek at what we have in our silent auction, with lots more goodies coming in every day!
7 days / 2 people / 5-star luxury photo safari $11,000 fair market value Seven-day luxury African photo safari for two to Victoria Falls in Africa. Includes three nights at The Wallow Lodge (Zimbabwe) and three nights at the Chobe Elephant Camp (Botswana). In addition to multiple safari game drives to view and photograph wildlife from the comfort of a 4x4 open-sided vehicle, winners receive a guided tour of Victoria Falls and the rainforest, and a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust. Enjoy 5-star service of imported wines and spirits with gourmet hot & cold canapés during a premium two-hour guided sunset cruise on the mighty Zambezi River and later, a beautiful sundowner experience on the rim of the Batoka Gorge, where the Zambezi Rapids rage 120 meters below. Other experiences include a canoe excursion along the Chobe floodplain, a relaxing scenic boat cruise, and a visit to the local village including the school, clinic, basket weavers, and crafts shop.
3 nights / 2 people / historic Arizona dude ranch $2,400 fair market value Experience one of the most historic properties in the west and an easy drive from Tucson or Tubac. INCLUDES: - Lodging for 3 nights for 2 guests (additional guests may be added at a per person cost) - Daily meals - Horseback riding - Guided off-road tours - Fat-tire electric bike tours - Sport shooting & archery Enjoy a scenic horseback ride on trails frequented by US Presidents and legendary figures like Pancho Villa. Relax in the room where Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell stayed and the house where the Marshall Plan was drafted. Learn to sort cattle as ranchers have for generations. Explore Native American ruins, the US-Mexico border or the neighboring 120,000 acres of Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge by off-road vehicle. Enjoy a cool drink in our cantina, the oldest continually used building in the state of Arizona. Retreat to the hacienda to relax in rich southwestern color and culture. All rooms have fireplaces, heat, AC, and private bathroom.
7 nights / family of 4 / near Florida theme parks $1,800 fair market value Enjoy seven nights for up to four guests at Vacation Village at Parkway! Minutes from Orlando’s theme parks, including Magic Kingdom Park, Universal Studios Florida, and SeaWorld Orlando, the resort offers spacious accommodations. After a full day enjoying the theme park capital of the world, you’ll be ready to return to your spacious, well-appointed one-bedroom suite which includes kitchen, living room, and dining room, or in the resort, with seven heated pools and seven hot tubs, three nature trails, and 22 barbecue grills, plus fitness center, concierge desk, and two arcades. INCLUDES: - 7 nights at Vacation Village at Parkway in a one-bedroom suite - All resort fees
2 separate portrait sittings $1,600 fair market value The Fairy Experience ($1,000 package) professional portrait session combined with a 20-minute immersive interactive Fairy Experience and a 14 inch Fine Art Portrait Print with full magical artistry. Family or children package ($600) includes personalized in-studio family session and a 14 inch Fine Art Portrait Print.
Pearl and diamond ring and earrings $3,150 fair market value LeVian brown pearl with round brilliant cut pave diamonds in high polished 14K yellow gold.
Hot air balloon rides $700 fair market value Hot air balloon flight for two, plus Rainbow Ryders swag: two decorated water bottles, two shirts, two tote bags, two enamel pins
Aromatherapy basket & chocolate $460 fair market value Comforting basket filled with flower essences and deluxe chocolates
CES tickets and swag! $400 fair market value Season tickets (2) for 2024-25, Champagne & Chocolate tickets (2) for 2024-25, CES wineglasses (2), CES embroidered hat (1)
Professional family research
$320 fair market value
Hosted tour and wine tasting $300 fair market value Wine tasting flight for 4 to 6, which includes a hosted tour with "Why Arizona Wines" and "You Think You Know How to Drink Wine Do You?" Choose your tasting room in either Cottonwood or Willcox.
Basket of items from AZ Highways gift shop
$300 fair market value
Charity Works
2-night stay in Las Vegas or Orlando $299 fair market value Free gift for each guest who donates or purchases at least $50 at the event!
Group of 8 for any performance $260 fair market value Group attendance for up to 8 persons for any regular performance at Rick Bronson's House of Comedy in Phoenix or other locations.
North Scottsdale rock climbing gym $250 fair market value One-month family membership.
Multi-restaurant gift card $200 fair market value Good at any location: Cake Nightclub, Clubhouse @ Maya, Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row, The District, Farm & Craft, El Hefe, Hand Cut Chophouse, Seven @ Caesar's Hotel, Riot House
Athletic gear from U of A
$200 fair market value
Park pass for one carload $180 fair market value Admission for one car to Arizona's premier wildlife park, Bearizona, near Flagstaff.
Two premium-seating season tickets for 2024-25
$160 fair market value
Restaurant gift card
$150 fair market value
Restaurant gift card
$100 fair market value
Gift certificate
$100 fair market value
VIP membership for every CES guest!
$99 fair market value
General admission for 4, single day
$90 fair market value
Golf for two players $80 fair market value One round of golf for two players at Emerald Isle Golf Course in Oceanside, CA, in between San Diego and Los Angeles and minutes from the beach. Championship quality greens, all-grass driving range, game practice area, all on “North County’s Most Challenging Executive Course.”
Lux wine tasting for up to 4 persons
$52 fair market value
One-of-a-kind chocolate satin pillbox hat $55 fair market value Unique design chocolate brown satin braid pillbox hat, a one-of-a-kind creation especially for our Champagne and Chocolate event by Ernestine Pennamon of Crown Creations.
Two single-day passes
$50 fair market value
Gift Cards
Help Us With an In-kind Donation!
Your in-kind donation of gift certificates, merchandise, or services for our silent auction, or your monetary donation toward our event expenses, would be greatly appreciated. Even a small donation can make a huge impact! In exchange for your generous donation, you will receive excellent community exposure and advertising, beginning with getting your donation featured on this page!
If you have something you’d like to donate for our silent auction, please review our In-Kind Donation page.
Thank you for your support!