Dream Auction another big hit

VERNON – The 29th annual Dream Auction wowed all involved.

The event, put on by the Kalamalka Rotary club, raised over $180,000 which will be used to give dozens of local projects a financial boost. 

“Wow, our expectations were greatly exceeded.  I can’t believe the support,” chair Taylor Dedora said.

Over 450 rotarians and guests participated in the event. Auctioneers Don and Peter Raffan conducted the live auction part of the night and pumped up the crowd.

“I can’t thank the Raffans enough,” club president Jerry Tellier said.  “They’re here for us every year; they know the crowd and they do an extraordinary job of maximizing the bidding.”
 
The highest ticket item this year was the fishing and golf trip to Campbell River with private airfare provided by the Kal Tire Jet which sold for $10,500. Many other items sold above their retail value.
 
“I’d like to thank all of the sponsors of our auction,” Dedora said. “And of course all of people who attended the auction and opened their pocketbooks for charity.  Our community is second to none in generosity and support and our club could not be more proud to be a part of it. Our donations committee will be meeting over the next 60 days to review funding applications, and raising this amount of money will allow the Club to financially assist dozens of worthy projects.”

The Dream Auction banquet tickets pay for all expenses related to the auction so that all funds raised can be returned 100 per cent to worthy projects. 

Groups interested in funding should visit the clubs’ website see whether they qualify and how to complete the online funding application.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.