BOYS & GIRLS CLUB GEARS UP FOR 19TH ANNUAL AUCTION

Boys & Girls Club Carroll C. Kendall unit director Mary Budke, club volunteer and auction solicitation co-chairman Stephen Rosales, and Sequim Sears owner Bob Grey stand next to the Craftsman riding lawnmower Grey donated for the upcoming auction.

Nearly 350 items are ready for the highest bidder

by AVANI NADKARNI
Staff Writer

A larger than life pirate ship, with a nearby running waterfall, sets anchor in Sequim on Oct. 27.

“Pirates in the Caribbean,” is the theme of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula's 19th annual black-tie auction and according to auction chairwoman Stacy Poirier, the Carroll C. Kendall unit will be “transformed from an after-school activities club to a formal affair.”

“We try to do something with the ocean and trees and water (for the event’s theme), something Washington-related,” said auction solicitation co-chairman Stephen Rosales. “We liked the pirate theme.”

Poirier added that they have ready nearly 350 items to be auctioned at the event, most in a silent auction but nearly 30 up for bidding in a live auction.

“We have items such as a riding lawnmower from Sears, a three-day, four-night fishing trip in Alaska, we have a custom-made pendant made by Tom’s Plaza Jewelers,” she said.

Other items up for bid include a flight to and from Seattle to attend a Seahawks game and Lasik eye surgery from Sequim doctor Matthew Niemeyer. Rosales added that there is a surprise item as well, that won’t be revealed until the event itself.
The silent auction will include “goodie bags” put together by Sequim businesses.

“There will be gift baskets from local businesses, gift certificates, all sorts of amazing things,” Poirier said.

Rosales and Poirier said more than 15 area businesses helped sponsor or donate to the event, and the club’s goal is to raise even more money than in last year’s successful auction.

“Last year we raised $211,000,” Poirier said. “This year we’d love to hit $250,000.”

The event also includes a dinner for all attendees, catered by Dream City Catering.

Poirier added that for the past two years the auction and dinner have been completely sold out, with people clamoring to get on a waiting list. Already this year, according to Poirier, more than half of the 352 seats have been sold.

Rosales said he contributes the regular success of the Boys & Girls Clubs event to the generosity of the peninsula population.

“This auction has always been community oriented,” he said. “People just give and give and give. The community once again has come through.”

Sequim’s Sears owner Bob Grey, who contributed to the auction, said he has been participating in the event ever since he opened up shop, and said he supports the club fully.

“(The Boys & Girls Clubs) do a lot of good work for the kids,” he said. “We like to help them do that.”


The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula’s 19th annual auction and dinner is being held Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Sequim unit. Tickets for the event, which has the theme “Pirates in the Caribbean,” are $100 each, which includes a catered dinner. For more information, call the Boys & Girls Club at 683-8095.