Auction night is more fun with friends! (Photo by Stpehen Quirk)

Each year starting in early October, our volunteer friends committee spends endless hours planning and preparing for our annual auction. The auction raises funds for the Museum & Theatre’s exhibits and educational programming, is rewarding to work on as a volunteer and fun to attend as a guest. This year’s auction, which was held this past Friday night at the Holiday Inn by the Bay was a big success, in spite of our fairly sluggish economy. Over 25 dedicated volunteers worked extremely hard to secure over 400 fabulous donations, including family getaways, sports and concert tickets, parties, jewelry, and much, much more. Approximately 300 guests attended, bid and won both live and silent auction items, and feasted on delicious appetizers, mini sandwiches and ice cream sundaes.

I would like to thank all of our incredible sponsors, White Rock Distilleries, Spectrum Medical Group and Sudzie Autowash for their outstanding support in Auction 2010. I would also like to thank all of our auction volunteers, guests, bidders, and winners and our extremely loyal donors- all of whom made this event possible.

Guests peruse the tables just before closing to get in their last-minute bids. (Photo by Stephen Quirk)

I hope YOU will consider attending next year’s auction which will be held on Friday, April 29th, 2011. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the summer and fall. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Alicia at alicia@kitetails.org or 207-828-1234 x242.

You can see many more photos from auction night on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Portland-ME/Childrens-Museum-Theatre-of-Maine/91981131578

UPDATE 4/6/10: The results are in and Auction 2010 exceeded our budgeted goal by over 15%!  Donations were outstanding – more than 300 local businesses and individuals donated goods and services valued at a total of over $105,000 to this year’s event.

Disney Family Vacation for 4:

Give your family the magic of Disney! Enjoy 3 nights at Buena Vista Palace, right in the heart of Downtown Disney, and 4 1-day park hopper passes valid at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Donated by: Walt Disney World, Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa and Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution

Boston Red Sox Family Getaway for 4:

Arrive at Fenway Park early for a special 50 minute guided walking tour of the ballpark and then see a Boston Red Sox game from the right field box. Celebrate or sleep off the game in Cambridge with 1 night’s accommodations and breakfast for 4 in a Hyatt Regency suite.

Donated by: Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Anonymous Donor and Fenway Park Tours

Join us on Friday, March 26 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay for Auction 2010: Make Dreams Come True. Silent Auction begins at 6:30 and Live Auction will begin at 7:30. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. FMI contact Alicia at 828-1234 x242 or alicia@kitetails.org. Reserve your tickets online now!