My story begins with me, the little black dress. But my story is brief because my story is really "your story" which will become "our story!" Confusing? Not really, just let me explain.

My life as I know it, as the little black dress, began with my first owner, Oprah. No further introduction is necessary, I’m sure, there’s no one who doesn’t know Oprah.

One might assume that my life would be typical of most little black dresses with glamour, glitz, swirling and swishing. But that is not my story to tell.

One day I was taken from the closet and put on display. I was to be one of a number of items auctioned by Oprah to raise money for her Angel Network.

The audience was excited on Oprah’s show that fateful day. The bidding came to me, just a little black dress. The bids kept going higher when all fell quiet and I was sold for $3,800.00.

My new owner was Sandra Carringer, a resident of North Carolina. I assumed, and you probably thought, too, that Sandra would wrap me up in a clothing bag with only the occasional outing for some special event. Not so! Sandra wanted me, her little black dress, to be shared by others and to benefit many.

You see, Sandra’s plan was to auction me, just like Oprah had done, to raise money for her own special charity. But my sale to the highest bidder would be conditional. My new owner would buy me to do the same thing — auction me to raise money for another charity.

Sandra wanted me to be auctioned at a special event — so this charity ball was named in my honor. Each of my new owners would honor me the same, hosting another charity ball in my name.

Everyone has a special charity needing support but raising funds is not always easy. I encourage you to bid on me to help a worthy cause. Then carry me away to auction me again and raise support for your own charity.

This is my story, I am the beginning. My story now becomes Your Story — your charitable cause and why you have chosen to host my event.

Your stories will become Our Story. Our Story will highlight each cause and show how one little black dress is shared by others to benefit so many.

Auctioning is to be the life of this little black dress. Buy me and sell me. I will love being a part of so many wonderful causes.

History of the Little Black Dress