Last October I wrote about how dining at the Chef's Table can be a popular auction item to sell (and a relatively easy item to procure). If you're already asking for a donation, why not see if the chef has a table in the kitchen and ask if that could be the special table for your winning bidders? Earlier this month on Twitter, I caught a link to the Chicago Business Journal. Shia Kapos wrote on this very subject. "Chef dinners on the charity auction block: a behind-the-scenes look" visits with ... Read On >
Mindset
A rather large fundraising gala in a small town by an (as of yet) unknown chef
I recently cleared my desk of papers and found this clipping my Mom mailed to me a few months ago. It was a nice event worth sharing. This wasn't an auction, but it was a fundraising gala. Read on... My trip to Kansas this summer coincided with a local fundraiser. It was a well-crafted event and a nice gesture on behalf of the young man who organized it. Adam Hoffines graduated from high school in 2006. He headed to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and graduated in ... Read On >
Making the best of a $250 bad situation
Lord & Taylor department store in Tyson's Corner, VA has a great selection of fine dresses. It's one of my favorite stores to shop when buying gowns and cocktail dresses for benefit auctions. During the store's May sale, I was in a hurry. I quickly scoured the racks, bought three dresses, and took them home. One of the gowns was a Donna Ricco one-shoulder dress. Normally I wouldn't buy a one-shoulder dress for work, and $250 is the top-end of what I'd pay, but it fit so well, hit at the ... Read On >
The charity I see at charity auctions
Tonight I worked at a small charity auction. The crowd numbered ~80. The charity auctions items numbered only 12 hand-crafted art pieces. There was no silent auction or raffles. There was no sit-down dinner. My crew stayed at home, and I worked alone. I arrived with my bag, took a few photos of the space, and then started to admire the items for sale. When guests arrived, I mingled. The advantage of small auctions is that I have more time to visit with the guests. REALLY visit. Not just ... Read On >
PODCAST: What NOT to say on stage at a benefit auction
Without a doubt, my pet peeve during this recession has been when the Executive Director, Auction Chair, or some other person of importance gets up to the microphone to say a few words at the benefit auction (e.g. thank sponsors and guests, etc.) and then — immediately before I walk onstage — pleads with the audience to “bid high, even though the economy is really bad right now.”ARRRRGH! What are they doing?!Here's what they SHOULD be talking about, if they hope to raise a lot of money in their ... Read On >