Going once, going twice - sold for $30,000.
The audience erupted in laughter and thunderous applause when auctioneer Howard Blank and legendary KISS bass-ist Gene Simmons finally succeeded in selling off the most expensive auction package of the night.
It became even more exciting when Simmons asked the bidder on stage to be recognized. It was none other than the rocker's own marriage coach, Tina Konkin.
When she approached the stage, Simmon's wife, Shannon Tweed, quickly came up on stage and put her arm around the bidder and told the audience, "Gene doesn't remember, but this is the woman who kicked Gene's butt."
After a moment of apparent recognition, Simmons proceeded to tell the audience how Konkin saved his marriage during a couples counselling retreat.
During an episode of his reality show, A&E's Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Konkin coaches the couple prior to their 2011 wedding. (They had been dating since the mid-'80s.)
"It was really crazy," quipped Konkin when the News reached her on the phone. "It wasn't pressure so much as it was exciting - I really only wanted to pay $27,000.
"My daughter Jenny kept trying to stop me when the bidding went passed $20,000."
The owner of Marriage Help Centers both in B.C. and California said she paid the high price because she wants the couple's Whistler chalet for the week.
"I facilitate marriage couple retreats, similar to what Shannon and Gene attended, and I needed a house in B.C. for our next one," she added. "Whistler was a spot I was interested in. So it was a great way to give to the Nite of Hope (NOH) as well."
Simmons and his wife donated the package Konkin won, which also included a custom made guitar signed by him, 10 tickets to the upcoming KISS concert in Vancouver, 10 tickets to see his son Nick and daughter Sophie sing at the River Rock Casino Resort, dinner for 10 at California's Rock & Brews restaurant, which Simmons has ownership in - hopefully with the power couple in attendance - as well as 10 tickets to his Las Vegas glow-in-the-dark KISS by Monster Mini Golf Site.
Konkin also has a personal reason for paying a princely sum to the NOH.
"My husband was diagnosed with cancer and he's fighting it right now," Konkin said. "Even though he doesn't have breast cancer, any money going towards any cancer research is money well spent."
Konkin also wanted to support the Hollywood couple.
"I knew that Shannon and Gene were going to be involved in the event so I bought tickets," she said. "They are so authentic and generous. There is no pretense with the two of them. They are extremely kind and giving."
In the end, Konkin said, "It was a win/ win. I got what I wanted and the money was donated to charity."
