This past weekend, I had back to back to back fundraising auctions. Benefit auctions are my favorite so it was great to have the chance to be a part of each and every one.
My Saturday auction was one where a professional auctioneer was used for the first time. An old client of mine had become part of the organizing committee of an already existing event. She insisted that bringing me on board would make a world of difference. This fundraising auction best showed how a well-organized auction event with an experienced auction team, a suitable venue, and the right auctioneer can take an event to a whole other level. In the past years, it had been run without much of a budget, a handful of volunteers and an untrained and inexperienced auctioneer. So armed with my signature home-baked apple pie for the dessert table and my trusty microphone; we brought an event that was barely raising $30,000 year after year to a 6-figure fundraiser for the first time ever. Bottom line is that we raised over $100,000 for the local high school. Nights like that is what really keeps me going in this business. School fundraisers are amongst the most rewarding work that I do and I'm proud to say, I've become pretty good at it.