Community turns out for annual clubs auction

COLUMBIA BASIN - It was all for the kids Saturday night.

Members of the Columbia Basin turned out for the 12th annual Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin auction at the Big Bend Community College ATEC Building.

The event, themed "Quest for Kids," included a Renaissance theme, on-stage entertainment during dinner provided by the Desert Duellers, a diamond draw, a heads and tails game and a silent and live auction.

"It's for the kids, it's for all the programs, for the many things we do, but really absolutely makes this special is this community's support," Club President Jason McGowan told the audience. "When I look out, see all the faces and all the people from this community willing to support and be part of this, it just is inspiring and I'm dumbfounded every year by how many people come out and pour their hearts and souls into this community through the Boys & Girls Club."

Club Executive Director Brant Mayo said the community was fantastic as always.

The club never tries to set a goal, but does aim to raise more than $100,000 at the auction each year, he added.

"I just appreciate all the hard work the staff, donors, sponsors and attendees tonight have done," Mayo said.

Moses Lake Lioness and club board member Deb Graser said the Lioness club was primary sponsor for the event after what she termed "a very successful year" selling Spaceburgers at the Grant County Fair.

"We always donate it back to the community, and kids are one of our primary things," Graser said. "We do a lot of scholarships for students, but the way the club's growing, and having so many kids, they needed the extra money and we just felt it was real important to donate back to them."

The event grows each year, Graser said.

Downtown Moses Lake location Branch Director Jarred Rendon was dressed to the nines in women's formal wear for the event, a last-second thing he was doing for fun, he said.

"What we're doing here all goes to the kids," he said. "That's basically what I'm doing it for."

"We thought it would be a fun night out on the town," said Nolan Parker, in attendance with his mother Yvonne at the Gottschalks table.

Nolan Parker believes the clubs help keep area youth out of trouble.

"It gives them a good environment to grow up in, do fun things after school and such," he said.

"Wonderful sponsorship, there's just a ton of items here, it's a lot of fun," Yvonne Parker added. "I hope there's a wonderful turnout."

Mike Hirai said he has been participating for a number of years. The spirit of the event is what keeps him coming back, he said.

"Everybody here seems to be so lighthearted and generous," he said. "It's just fantastic. I think one of the things (the clubs do) is add core values to the young kids, and I think that's really important. They can see some light at the end of the tunnel, some hope, and I think as long as you have hope, that's the positive that you want people to see they have."

"I think the clubs have always been important but as we've grown and we have so many problems, our youth, even when I was here 50 years ago, we didn't have a lot to do," said Cheryl Elkins. "But I think it's always been important for our youth to have somewhere to be able to go so they have something to do besides get in trouble."