Bethesda Project, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, is hosting its 29th Annual Party & Auction on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the historic Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. The Party & Auction is the organization’s largest fundraising event, and this year Bethesda Project aims to raise $250,000 in support of the life-changing programs and services they provide for thousands of Philadelphians experiencing homelessness annually and achieve their mission to be family with those who have none.
The event will honor Bethesda Project founder Abbot Domenic Rossi, O. Praem. who founded the organization in 1979 with members of his prayer group from Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania. He is currently serving his final year as abbot at Daylesford Abbey and will continue to serve the priesthood and community after his retirement.
The program host is Aunyea Lachelle, an Emmy Award–winning entertainment and lifestyle journalist, host, and producer with more than a decade of experience across broadcast television, digital media, and live events. She is currently an on-air entertainment and lifestyle contributor for multiple networks nationwide, including ABC News. Most recently, she served as the host and producer of Philly Live on NBC10 Philadelphia, where she anchored daily live television, produced original segments, and interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment, culture, and news.
This event’s premier sponsor is The Emerson Group, a leading consumer products equity organization that manages brands totaling over $8 billion in value and invests in small and medium-sized brands through its various divisions: Emerson Logistics, Emerson Retail Commerce, Emerson Digital Commerce, Emerson Insights, Emerson Brand Management, Emerson Marketing, and Emerson Consumer Care.
The Party & Auction celebrates Bethesda Project’s history and shared accomplishments, as well as provides an opportunity to honor community partners, sponsors, and donors. Guests attending the Party & Auction can expect to see and learn new things at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. From 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm, three rooms upstairs will be open for self-guided tours, allowing guests to experience the space intimately and uniquely. General admission tickets are available for $225 with special discounted pricing for Early-Bird tickets until April 25th or Young Professional General Admission, 40 and under, for $175.
Silent auction items available at this year’s event include vacations, restaurant gift cards, a variety of gift baskets, signed sports memorabilia, and more! For those unable to physically attend the event and bid on-site, individuals will still be able to participate in the silent auction, which goes live online on May 8th.
About Bethesda Project
Bethesda Project provides emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services for those experiencing
homelessness in Philadelphia through its mission to “find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none.” Across its 11 locations, Bethesda Project offers a safe environment where guests and residents can stabilize and regain their dignity and self-worth. For more information, please visit www.bethesdaproject.org.
