The Lake Michigan College Foundation has announced its next Student Benefit Auction will be held on Saturday, March 7 at the Mendel Center.
LMC Vice President of Advancement and Community Impact Doug Schaffer tells us the auction started out as the Winners Circle Auction in 1988 and has been held nearly every year since, raising millions to support students.
“Over that period of time, we’ve had it every single year except for a couple of years during COVID, and we have steadily raised a lot of money for student scholarships and other programs that serve students directly,” Schaffer said. “And I’m excited to report that over the years, this fundraiser has created an endowment that now provides almost $250,000 in scholarship money every year.”
And that’s not all.
“That goes to help us fund very important programs like our free tuition and books scholarship program for every recent high school graduate from an in-district high school. It also provides funding to support our food bank and our food pantry. That’s really important for our students that have food insecurities. And it also goes to support our Veterans Educational Assistance Program.”
There will be a live and a silent component of the auction, with more than 100 items up for grabs.
“Well over 100 silent auction items, as well as somewhere around seven or eight live auction items, from entertainment, concerts, athletic events, to home improvement items and kids’ toys, to gift certificates and service opportunities.”
Schaffer says the night of the auction is like a gala.
“It’s been an honor to kind of have that be one of the elite social gathering opportunities here in southwest Michigan. And so we’ve had a lot of folks that just always circle their calendars when the reminder comes out.”
Schaffer also notes the LMC Foundation this year is recognizing Carolyn Hanson as chair emerita of the LMC Student Benefit Auction for her efforts to start the event back in the 80s.
On average, the auction raises about $125,000 to $150,000 each year. Tickets to the auction are available now.
