Spring Auction 2008 "Welcome to Dixieland," May 2, 2008

Chair for this year's auction is Cherie Shanahan. Thank you for chairing our auction!

This year’s auction, Welcome to DIXIELAND, will be St. Bridget's 32nd auction! While the auction is an annual fundraising event, it is also the church’s biggest party of the year, a time when our entire facility is filled with parishioners gathered together for fellowship and fun.  Our first  auction was chaired by June Gonnella in 1975; Frank Guisness was our first auctioneer and for many years following, retiring only two years ago. John Curley will be our auctioneer this year.

Over the years the auction has steadily grown, with more volunteers involved, more items donated, more attendees, and more funds raised.  To give some perspective of the talent and  effort it takes to prepare for the auction, consider the statistics from last year.  There were 32 committees chaired by 47 people. Those committees involved 226 volunteers, not counting the last frenzied days before the auction, when additional parishioners are always needed for last-minute set up.  Last year there were over 900 donations made to the auction, about 250 of which were from community businesses that recognize the value of our efforts and are happy to give back to an organization that supports them.  And last but not least, last year we raised over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars!

The proceeds of the auction go to support the general operation of the parish, benefiting every area of parish life.  More specifically the auction supports school scholarships, charitable outreach, such as the Sacred Heart Shelter and our ministry at Children’s Hospital, and our parish youth ministry.  Without the auction these programs —or others—would certainly be curtailed.

The auction is held right on our church premises, and uses every single room in our facility.  Our space is transformed by a talented and creative group of people who transport us to such exotic locations as a Tropical Paradise, the Wild Kingdom, Paris, or Las Vegas.  We have even been transported back in time to the Big Band Era or the days of the Sock Hop. 

If you’ve never attended the auction, you’re missing a magical event.  Please come this year!  You will marvel at what so many talented parishioners can accomplish together.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:  The auction needs the work of many hands to be successful.  We do have a place for you; you have a talent we need!  If you would like to chair next years auction, please let Denny Duffell know!  If you would like to be on a committee for next years auction, check back here often to see who the new chairs will be!

Some suggestions to get involved: