Rotary TV auction raises a record $95,000
The hard work of volunteers, the enthusiasm of the community, the NHL hockey strike and the reach of the World Wide Web have converged to deliver a record breaking year for the Campbell River Rotary Club TV auction.
Club President Todd Peachey says the weekend auction televised live from the Shaw studios raised $95,000. “This is money that will be spent on projects in the community,” he said.
He added that none of the money raised is earmarked for the bridge across Elk Falls.
Peachey said just about everyone in the 85-member club played a role in the auction. “We were very pleased that there was good competitive bidding particularly on Saturday evening when we did not have to compete with the Canucks on TV.”
The club president said this year’s event also represented a leap in to the 21st Century.
“We were streaming on the World Wide Web and people were actually bidding in items from the Smart Phones.”
Peachey said he was particularly pleased that Bill Henderson’s “Pugwis” mask carving valued at $5,800 fetched $4,300 in bidding.
As well, a Campbell River Hearing Clinic package valued at $7,775 went for more than $4,500.
In years past, money raised by the auction has supported projects like the Rotary Seawalk, the Centennial Pool, Our Place, the Fishing Pier, Carihi’s Infant and Toddler Centre and the waterpark project at the Sportsplex.