Junior League of Williamsport is gearing up for its Holiday Auction - one that is sure to be a "Sweet Escape" for everyone in attendance.
For more than 10 years, the auction has been a major fundraiser for the organization, whose mission, according to president Shelby Weber, is "to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women and improve communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers."
"The holiday auction makes what we do possible. All of our funds come from the holiday auction," Weber said.
Last year's event raised about $12,500 that provided community grants to five organizations, including Youth Leadership Lycoming, Special Olympics, Women Build and Keystone Healthy Zone and allowed St. John Neumann Regional Academy to buy a stage curtain.
"But how do you put a number on that?" Weber said.
This year's auction, which will be held at the Williamsport Country Club, will feature heavy hor d'oeuvres and dessert. A silent auction and cocktail hour will start at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction will begin at 7.
Auction items will include a wine cellar featuring a large assortment of wines donated by sustaining members, an herbal-vinegar basket, an exercise machine, cookie trays by Cookies on Demand and a possible airplane ride. Weber said she hopes to see about 100 items for the silent auction and 30 for the live.
Matt Dallos of State College donated a nature photograph and Lisa Darrow of Williamsport will auction off a watercolor painting.
Jewelry by Meghan Beardsley's line "Just Because" will be included in the lineup and Blair Brothers Goldsmiths donated a 14-karat yellow gold pendant featuring a pink tourmaline for the evening's raffle item.
A personalized portrait session and the choice of either a fine art framed canvas portrait or a canvas gallery wrap, donated by Becker's Photography Studio, also will be auctioned off.
The difference between Junior League and other organizations, Weber said, is the training, conducted by the Association of Junior League International Inc.
Members are able to attend four or five local training sessions to learn about topics like running effective meetings, time management and budgeting. This year, the women also had the opportunity to take part in Super Saturday, at which each member took personality tests and learned how to apply them to different people in their lives.
"By doing this type of training, we're able to pass on the things that we've learned," Weber said.
Such training is not available through other nonprofit organizations, she added.
The holiday auction also allows Junior League to reach out to the community by doing projects like Cinderella's Closet, according to Valerie Masser, vice president of finance.
Cinderella's Closet was adopted by Junior Leagues across the country to provide everything a young girl needs to attend her school prom.
"Ever since I was a teen, I've done community service projects to give back to the community," Masser said. "This event helps with self-esteem and I think its important for parents to be able to provide for their daughters."
Weber said she worried that there wouldn't be a need for such a project, but when about 80 high school girls showed up from as far as Sunbury and Wilkes-Barre to receive a prom gown, makeup, perfume and accessories for their big night, she began planning for next year's event.
Tickets for the Junior League's 2008 Holiday Auction, "Sweet Escape," are $20 and may be bought by calling Lauren Schuman at 490-1479 by Nov. 21.
Dress for the occasion is formal.
For more information, call 326-6097, visit www.jlwilliamsport.org or stop by 353 Pine St., Suite 3A.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Blair Brothers Goldsmiths donated a 14-karat yellow gold pendant featuring a pink tourmaline, seen at left, for the Junior League of Williamsport's Holiday Auction raffle item. Above, Jamie Jones, program director, far right, and Renee Gerringer, program assistant, second from right, both from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, accept a Community Opportunity Grant in the amount of $500 from the Junior League of Williamsport, which includes, from left, Laurie Crane, community vice president; Laurie Ade, Soup and a Bowl Project In a Day chairwoman; and Shelby Weber, president. This is just one of the many ways Junior League gives back to the community throughout the year.
