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Raising Bucks for Boxers!

THE 2001 ABCF AUCTION

by Sharon Fosseen, ABCF Treasurer

The 2001 American Boxer Charitable Foundation Auction was the most successful ever! Bliss Bancroft, the ABCF Fundraising/Membership Chair, pulled it off again and in fine style! Volunteers appeared at her behest and worked hard putting it all together. Without the volunteers, the donors and those willing to bid and join in the fun, this fundraiser couldn't have been the success it was. Thanks to each and every one of you! AND, a huge thanks to those who donated items. With no items we would have no Auction -- it's as simple as that. Donations were of all kinds and in all price ranges. Bruce Korson very generously donated several pieces of Boxer jewelry that had belonged to his late wife Jeanne. These pieces were a large part of why this year’s auction was so successful, and the Foundation owes him a debt of gratitude.

On Auction day some people arrived with armloads of items and others with single items, and every item made a difference to the "bottom line." Some donors even went out and bought items from the vendors to donate to the Auction!

Dr. Lynn Kincla, Kirsty Taylor and Wendy Mitchell, from the United Kingdom, in response to our last minute Showboxer L call for items, brought a hard bound copy of the British Boxer Club Year Book that was snapped up in the Loud Auction.Thank you, Lynn, for bringing it all the way from England. It was a unique item and was greatly appreciated!

A Dancing Musical Boxer (okay -- not the greatest head but he had rhythm:-) started the evening with bidding and laughter, and Auctioneer Rufus Burleson kept it lively to the very end. Just watching the determination of the spirited bidders was entertaining. And if you were outbid on an item, you knew the money was going for medical research for our breed, and that helped to ease the "loss." (Besides, you could always lie in wait and hope to mug ‘em and get the item anyway...;-) But many walked away smiling, clutching something they prized, including several who were first-timers at the Auction. That’s what we like to see! This is for everyone, and most importantly, for our breed.

Despite the fact that we had 24 more people show up for the dinner than we had anticipated, it was great fun for all. This year, people who wanted to bid only, and not attend the pre-auction dinner, were welcomed and we had a good number respond. Those boxer lovers then made their presence known by diving into the competitive bidding and were successful many times. They also kept the silent auction tables alive. Despite the fact that several people were determined to buy special items and were willing to pay top dollar for them, there were also bargains to be had. Every item was sold this year and every dollar raised will be matched by AKC when we allocate it for health studies. What a great way to raise money for our breed...it put the FUN back in fundraising. AND...we raised a record-breaking $21,800 at this year's auction. That means that after AKC matches it, it will have the impact of $43,600 to study the health problems of our breed!

Impressive as that sum is, we can't rest on our laurels but must start thinking of next year’s Auction. As you go through the year, if you see something you think will be a hit at the Auction, just pick it up and tuck it away. Or if you are artistic or handy and able to make something that you think next year’s bidders might like, start now! Serious items, funny items, expensive objects or modest trinkets -- we need some of each to make the auction accessible to all.

Please help keep the ABCF Auction in the back of everyone's mind during the rest of the year. Bliss is already looking into ways to make next year’s Auction even bigger and better, and we’ve already received some great suggestions that we hope to implement.

And remember, every dollar raised by the ABCF is matched by the AKC for boxer health research, thereby doubling the impact of every dollar you contribute. What other way do you know of that literally doubles your money for the most worthy cause in the boxer fancy?