Save the date for the Fresno Christian’s 31st annual auction on March 15, which will be hosted in the FC gym from 5:30-9 p.m.

The night will consist of both silent and live auction segments. The silent auction will consist of gift certificates, services and desserts. Steak dinner will be served at 6:30 followed by the live auction at 7:30. Executive Director of Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC), Tom Sommers will be the night’s guest emcee.

The purpose of the auction is to raise as much money for the school as possible and to raise awareness in the community. The 2014 goal is 100K, $10,000 more than the 2013 event.

Superintendent Debbie Siebert raves at the student involvement and their key part in the success of the night.

“The students help set up which is really important, setting up the tables and chairs,” Siebert said. “Every year we try to see if we can beat the time it takes us to set up because having the PE classes there, usually everyone is really cooperative and everyone participates. Then sometimes elementary comes and helps put the skirting around the edges of the tables which is also time saving, you know getting lots of kids out there to help.”

Siebert encourages all students to help at the action by setting up or donating items to be auctioned off.

“Sometimes students help carry auction items from wherever we’ve got them stored and put them put on the tables,” Siebert said. “The night of the event, Student Leadership helps with raffle tickets. Last year they beat the record and brought in $7,000 off of the raffles.”

Junior Aaron DeWolf helped with the auction last year and provides insight on his tasks.

“I helped out with the silent auction,” DeWolf said. “When time was called I’d tear off the sheets and make sure no one was still writing after time was called. Before the auction I helped set up the tables and after I helped take everything down.”

Siebert explains her role in the auction as being apart of the auction committee.

“I’m part of the auction committee, the auction committee is comprised of the chairmen of the foundation board,” Siebert said. “The foundation board is in charge of raising money for the school, and we also have other members from the parents at large that help with that committee along with Mrs. {Kathy} Pierce and myself.”

After multiple successful years, Siebert wants to raise 100K for the school, since this will be her final year as superintendent of FC.

“We usually hope to clear around $90,000 but this year we are hoping for at least $100,000,” Siebert said. “It’s bittersweet, saying goodbye is hard. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, it’s been a big part of my life. But when the Lord calls you in and then calls you out you know.”

These writers can be reached via twitter: @_sarapeterson @gaby_siqueiros.

For more news, read the Feb. 27 article, Campus choral department hosts festival.