At Saturday night’s “Pumpkins on the Green” event to benefit the Irvine Nature Center, organizers auctioned off an item featuring Julie Bowen that scored a winning bid of $21,000. “There was a bidding war going on,” said one man in attendance.  ”But once it hit $20,000 the other guy said ‘that’s enough.’”  The auction item includes lunch with the Emmy-winning star, a tour of the Modern Family set, DVDs, a script and cast photo all signed by the stars of the show.

The nonprofit is understandably thrilled: “We’re so proud and lucky to count Julie among our many amazing friends! She is truly lovely, and we can’t thank her enough for being our honorary chair,”  said Beth Lacey Gill, marketing and communications director at the Irvine Nature Center.