The 28th annual FC auction, which featured a steak dinner catered by Pardini’s and a live and silent auction, raised an estimated $108,906 to help bridge the gap between tuition income and campus expenses, March 12. (An exact figure will be available later in the week.)
The event, emceed by Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, took place in the FCS Gym from 5:30-9 p.m.
The silent auction featured various items ranging from desserts to paintings, while the live auction offered luxurious trips and handcrafted creations by FC students. (For a complete list of live auction items, visit the Auction 2011 page on the school’s website.)
According to Superintendent Debbie Siebert, the auction serves to stabilize the finances on campus and keep the school running.
“It’s our major fundraiser for the year, and without it, we could not run our school,” Siebert said. “It covers the gap between what we charge in tuition and what it costs us to run the school, so it’s a very important event for the stability of our school.”
Throughout the evening, Dyer recognized the generosity of patrons and the effect of their support in the Central Valley.
“When you think of what Fresno Christian High School produces — and Fresno Christian Schools — it’s incredible: the students that come out of here, the academic achievements. The fact that they are able to have a learning environment that is Christ-centered is something that is seldom offered, and that’s something we need more of,” Dyer said. “And it’s not able to occur unless we have generous people in our community, like we saw tonight, that give sacrificially.”
As the emcee, Dyer was able to comment on the responsiveness and energy of the crowd.
“It was an honor for me to be asked [to emcee],” Dyer said. “I thought the people responded very, very well. I think it was capped off at the end when a gentleman donated, I believe, $3,600 just to provide a scholarship to a student. That not only talks about the excitement, but that talks about the level of generosity that was in this room.”
Based on the revenue brought in and the generosity of the guests, Siebert deems the 2011 auction a success.
“I thought [the auction] was spectacular. We actually oversold the auction this year, so that was wonderful,” Siebert said. “I think everyone had a wonderful time. The bidding was great; an abundance of items were bid. Everyone was very, very generous, so I feel like we were very blessed.”
Teachers, students contribute to event
Music director Michael Odgon attended the auction to represent the music department, which donated a fireworks package to the live auction.
“I am here to represent the band and the choir with the fundraiser that we’re always having to raise money for the Heritage tour,” Ogdon said. “We’re offering the big firework display for the open auction.”
To help the auction run more smoothly, administrators enlisted the support of FC students. Members of the varsity baseball team and the Planeteers Club helped to clean up after the event, while student volunteers sold raffle tickets during the auction. In total, these raffle tickets raised $7,180.
“I was chosen by Mr. [Rob] Foshee to help sell tickets; he picked the people he thought would be best at it,” Rayna Endicott, ’14, said. “I had to go out of my comfort zone and talk to people that I didn’t know, but it was worth it because we raised a lot of money for the school.”
Although less money was raised this year than from last year’s auction, Principal Todd Bennett says the fundraiser was a success given the current economy. In 2010, the FC Auction raised over 115,000 for the school.
“We raised over $108,000, which is pretty good,” Bennett said. “The auction was a lot of fun and an excellent evening. It was a little less for intake, but we did pretty well this year.”
Event connects FC community
While the purpose of the auction is to support the school, Bennett recognizes the event’s role in uniting the FC community.
“The best part of the auction is the chance for the FC community to come together for a common purpose for the children of our school and even for friends who don’t have kids here who get to learn more about Fresno Christian,” Bennett said.
In addition to Bennett, Pete DeGroot, co-chairman for the auction, says that the event helps spread awareness about FC.
“It [the auction] is a good way to raise money for the school,” DeGroot said. “It gets people who don’t normally get involved in Fresno Christian, so that’s why I like to do that. Some of these people never get in contact with the school, but they come here and get in contact with it.”
Guests of the auction included teachers, parents, students and friends. Scott Rurik, father of junior Austin Rurik, says he attended the auction because it promotes the school and raises needed revenue.
“This is a very efficient way to raise revenue for the school,” Scott said. “I like that the students are here to help set up, promote and sell tickets. I like that they are visible because parents and adults and grandparents get to know what the kids are like, and so to see the students here is a very important thing. I think the auction was very well done.”
For more information on the auction, read the Feb. 15 article, Annual auction slated for March 12. For past coverage of the event, read the March 22, 2010 article, 27th annual FC Auction offers food, fellowship.
Nick Avery, Mary Hierholzer and Austin Ward also contributed to this article.
