Boys and Girls Club auction Oct. 5
A sold-out crowd sits down to dinner at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia Basin's annual auction last year. This year's auction takes place Oct. 5.
MOSES LAKE - Disco is coming back to Moses Lake, courtesy of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin.
The organization's annual auction fundraiser takes place at Big Bend Community College Oct 5. Executive Director Brant Mayo said event organizers come up with a different theme each year.
Last year, guests dressed up like characters from the board game Clue, he said. This year, the theme is Saturday Night Fever.
"Every year we try to have a theme so people can dress in costume and dress up a little," Mayo said.
The Boys and Girls Club has held the auction for the past 18 years. It is one of the group's biggest fundraisers, Mayo said.
"All of the money raised goes right back to fund operations," he said. "It pays for staffing, materials, keeps the electricity on and things like that."
It costs the organization about $2,000 to provide services for each kid, each year. And the Boys and Girls Club doesn't turn away any kids, Mayo said.
"We charge $20 for membership and this fundraiser helps us close that funding gap," he said. "It's hugely important to our organization."
The group raised more than $125,000 during last year's event, Mayo said. He said he expects to have a full house this year.
"There were more than 300 people last year, and there will probably be more than 300 people attending this year," he said. "We're pretty much all sold out."
Tickets to the auction are $100 each, Mayo said. Community members can call the Boys and Girls Club to see if any tickets are still available, he said.
The event begins at 5 p.m. this year. There will be a silent auction, an almost live auction and a live auction during the night, Mayo said.
More than 40 items will be auctioned during the live auction alone, he said.
The event also features a wine and micro brew tasting. Dinner begins at 7 p.m.
Mayo said there will also be a diamond draw after dinner. Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50.
"We typically draw five tickets and five people come up on stage," he said. "They'll get a wine glass with a stone in it, but one is actually a diamond."
Whoever has the genuine diamond, gets to keep it, Mayo said.
"It's a true diamond draw," he said.
People can also buy raffle tickets for $10 each to participate in the night's horse raffle.
"We'll draw 10 numbers and 10 people come up and pull paddles," he said. "We have videotaped horse races and if your numbered horse wins, you win."
There will be three races, and three prizes, Mayo said. In the past, they've handed out gas cards, dinners, and trips, he said.
"The whole night we'll have pretty cool prizes," he said.
Mayo said the organization is still looking for auction items. Businesses or individuals interested in donating items can call 509-764-9694 and ask for him or Deb, he said.
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