Over 300 people attended the 2015 Auction for the Arts, held at the King Plow Arts Center on West Marietta Street. The auction raised almost $350,000.
As the event began, guests enjoyed delicious food at various stations while shopping the silent auction; the fare included shrimp and grits, roasted pulled chicken, Port wine braised boneless beef short ribs, potatoes with arugula, broccolini with roasted garlic, grilled seasonal vegetables and a fantastic dessert bar.
The silent auction featured over 250 items up for bid, ranging from art pieces created by students and local artists, to dining experiences, golf packages, and themed baskets prepared by each grade level. Guests bid on their choices using QTego, a bidding technology that works conveniently from one’s cell phone.
The silent auction was followed by the live auction, led by auctioneers Tarryn and Jason Troutman:
During the live auction, people purchased many treasures. Some of the items included a Penley painting, a Labrador puppy, and vacation packages such a trip to Italy or a weekend at a beautiful Montana cabin. A year of tuition was also awarded during the tuition raffle.
Each auction, a need is highlighted to fund, and guests viewed this year’s “Fund-A-Need” video as well. In
2011, the Lower School Outdoor Garden and Classroom was funded; in 2013, a new truck for the Operations Department was purchased with Fund-A-Need donations, and this year, new band uniforms for the Whitefield WolfPack Marching Band will be purchased. Donations can still be made towards this project here.
The net proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase theater seating for the Louise Owens Theater, audio-visual equipment for the Lower School Student Activity Center, and several other items to enhance the arts at Whitefield.
A full listing of items purchased from the auction proceeds will be published later this year
Special thanks to the auction steering committee listed below and the many other volunteers and contributors who made the auction possible:
Chair: Christa Hurley
Acquisition Chair: Nikki Moses
Event Coordinator: Stephanie Moseley
Sponsorship Chair: Kevin Byrne
Marketing: Connie Sinclair
Tuition Raffle: Jill Petersen
Whitefield Liaison: Cindy Fennel
QTEGO Coordinator/Data Entry: Melody Koenig
Ultimate Experience Acquisition: Nancy Mathews & Stephanie Yates
Art Acquisition: Lee Anne Keck
Dining Acquisition: Ashley Buero
Sport Acquisition: Sean Schulte
Community Acquisition: Tracy Griffin
Auction Consultants: Suna Kantor & Renee Schwarzkopf
Hospitality: Jan Wozniak
Honorary Chairs: Rich and Becky Matherne