Annual auction is group’s top fundraiser

“Caribbean Carnival” is the theme for this year’s Port Angeles Symphony auction, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at Sunland Golf and Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive, Sequim.

Wine and music by a quartet from the orchestra accompany the silent auction. Chef Brian Lippert caters the dinner; the meal is served during the live auction.

There is no buyer’s fee charged for this year’s auction.

Tickets are $75 per person.

The auctioneer is Matt Smith and Don Perry is master of ceremonies.

“It’s a fun evening with a wide variety of live auction items, especially a number of trips, (and) many gourmet dinners for folks to bid on,” auction chairman Chuck Whitney says. “There’s a lot of interest in the dinners.”

Auction attendees can bid on gourmet meals by the plate, Whitney says, instead of having to buy several plate sittings and fill out the roster.

A limited number of Golden Raffle tickets are available at $50. The raffle winner gets the chance to take home his or her choice of any item offered at the live auction, Whitney says, including cruises to the

Caribbean and Alaska.

“This event ‘makes or breaks’ our budget every year and its success is critical to the financial stability of the orchestra,” says Mark Wendeborn, Port Angeles Symphony executive director.

Whitney says the symphony hosts a few, smaller fundraisers during the season but none like the annual auction.

He says the symphony’s goal for the 2011 auction is $35,000.

“It’s similar to what has been raised in previous years,” Whitney says. “The last couple of years have been harder, but our expenses continue. We’re just fortunate we have a number of patrons who help us out with donations.”

A menu and a list of auction items are available online at www.portangeles symphony.org.

For reservations or more information, call Wendeborn at 457-5579.