Money can’t buy you love, but if you attend the American Cancer Society’s singles auction, “Single in the City,” you can bid on a date tonight.

Up for bid are some of the area’s most eligible women and men.

There are 18 eligible dates, who are in their 20s and 30s and include professionals, such as TV anchors, lawyers and doctors.

ACS representative Mary Kathryn Walker said this is the third year the ACS has had an auction to raise money, but what they do changes every year.

This year, a group date is offered, as going on a one-on-one date with a stranger could be intimidating, Walker said, but tables for two will be set up.

The auction is a great way for people in this age group to meet each other and have a good time, she said.

“It’s a fun event for a good cause,” Walker said.

She stressed how important it is to get young people involved in the ACS’s mission, as many people may not realize how widespread cancer is and may have never known anyone with the disease.

“That’s why it is so important to get them involved in what we do,” Walker said.

Sarah Hunt Oswald, an ACS developmental representative, is playing a dual role — that of event planner and also as one of the singles up for bid. Planning the event was easier than being an entrant, she said.

To prepare for tonight’s big event, she said she bought a new dress, and her expectations are high because she said she thinks the group date will be laid-back and not as awkward as a date for just two.

“The group date played a huge part in getting more people to sign up,” she said.

And, if people hit it off at the group date, maybe more dates will follow, she added.

One of the eligible dates is Matthew Rone, an attorney in Fairhope. When he learned his photo and biography were posted on the WJSK radio Web site, he said, “I am absolutely blushing.”

Rone was surprised when he was asked to be one of the singles up for bid.

“I’m a pretty low profile kind of guy,” he said.

His family has been very supportive, but his friends would like to see him squirm, he said. His mother has been helping him sell tickets to the ACS event to friends, so Rone is “expecting a small contingency,” he said.

“I don’t want to be perceived as someone who thinks so highly of himself that he wants to parade around,” Rone said.

One big reason for his participation is that his mother was diagnosed just last year with melanoma, so he would like to be more involved in helping to raise funds and this seemed like a good way to do it, he said.

“What you see is what you get,” Rone said with a smile.

He described himself as being a very straightforward, honest kind of guy. Rone has a law degree and has been practicing for several years.

Though he is now in general practice he prefers the excitement of litigation and jury trials, he said. He was an assistant district attorney for Baldwin County for two years before going into private practice.

Before he went to law school, he studied in Edinborough, Scotland, and Austria, Vienna. He even worked as a bartender in Scotland for a while and roamed extensively around the Middle East with a friend before returning to the states.

“This being my first ‘pageant.’ I am feeling a little objectified,” he said with a laugh. Rone doesn’t really care for the social spotlight, he said. But just recently he started dancing more in public to whatever music is playing.

So ladies, put on your dancing shoes, open those pocketbooks and prepare to donate, all for a good cause.

The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Beach House Grill on the Causeway tonight. There will be dancing, food, a band, and emcee Shelby Mitchell of 95-WKSJ radio.

Then, on Aug. 30, singles plus their winning bidders are invited to attend an extravagant group date at Cafe’ 615 in Mobile.

Since this is a silent auction, a photo and a profile from each entrant will be put in a frame and a bid sheet placed beside it. The minimum bid is $50. The bidding will begin at 7 p.m. and bid sheets will be removed at 9 p.m.

If you would like to purchase tickets, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit cancer.org or you can buy tickets at the door for $10.