Dawn Castro
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta North Rotary Club will host its 35th Annual Charity Auction from 7-11 p.m. Saturday at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. The event will include both a silent and live auction.
Tim Griffis, auction chairman and organizer, said, “This is a wonderful event. It’s also our one big charity project for the year.”
Griffis added that, over the past 35 years, the Valdosta North Rotary Club has raised over half a million dollars for various organizations. Proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit The Rotary Foundation, the Greater Valdosta United way, the Alapaha Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, Cystic Fibrosis and Big Brother Big Sisters.
Griffis said that, while a big turnout is expected, there is no set goal to meet this year.
“Due to the economy, we don’t really want to set a goal,” he said. “We just want to get the word out to people and try to raise as much as we can to help some charities in the community. We feel encouraged that it will be successful.”
The fund-raiser will feature about 20 live auction items, including a Turner’s Fine Furniture shopping spree, fishing trips, a gazebo and grills from Lowe’s Distribution Center and a beach front resort getaway to St. George Island. Among the silent auction items are an iPod Shuffle, restaurant gift certificates, store gift cards, a programmable thermostat, power tools and passes to Wild Adventures Theme Park.
There will also be a raffle for a $3,500 Steel’s Jewelry gift certificate. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door from any Valdosta North Rotary Club member.
A variety of hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served. Dress is business casual.
Rotary’s mission is “service before self.” It works to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
To learn more about the Valdosta North Rotary Club’s 35th Annual Charity Auction, including how to obtain admission, please call Tim Griffis at (229) 219-9913.
