How much would you pay to have Paris at home?
Paris was but the icing on the cake at the annual BGF Bake-Off that raised a record amount for HIV.
The fundraiser collected $53,000 from donations and the auction of cakes, jams and kitchen accessories at the Midnight Shift on Sunday.
Taking out the top prize of Best in Show for another year was Miss 3-D, also known as Glen Lewis from Sweet Art, who created the celebrity prison fantasy.
Featuring Paris Hilton, a black tattooed lesbian, a strap-on dildo, and a horrified miniature dog looking in through prison bars, the adult-themed cake titled Defiled was the subject of heavy bidding at the Bake-Off, pulling in a sweet $7,000 – more than double any individual item at any previous Bake-Off.
BGF CEO Bev Lange said the money would go to home-based, finance, counselling and vocational programs.
“I was standing beside the stage as the frantic bidding was going up and up and up, thinking there’s lots of clients that we can help with this kind of money,” Lange said.
“What was encouraging was not just the dollars, but the 80 participants this year is also a record. People are wanting to be involved in community activities like Bake-Off and show their support.”
Other winners included Hot Lips by Handi Mulyana, which tied with Defiled for Best Cake (Professional) and went for $3,400 at auction.
Winners in the non-professional categories included Max Greenhalgh, Sylviane Vincent and Miriam McPherson, Fehmi Talily, Jony Mok, Trixie Eyesnteeth, Matthew Huxtable, and June Stevens.
The enthusiastic Team Toggs took out second place in Best Preserves and third in Best Gingerbread.
Lange said BGF was supporting more people with HIV than ever, making the Bake-Off that much more important.
“Volunteer numbers have dropped. I think that’s because the number of death notices in our press have dropped so dramatically,” she said.
“But rates are still high and people are living longer. Our clients still need care and support.”
And the person who spent $7,000 on a single cake? At least he’ll always have Paris.
