HANCOCK COUNTY — The Rotary Club of Greenfield’s Gift of Life auction is going virtual for the first time in the event’s 22-year history.
Typically, the local event includes a formal dinner and both a live and silent auction, but organizers were forced to change the format this year due to the pandemic.
More than 200 people attended last year’s event on Feb. 29, when more than $60,000 was raised for the Gift of Life Foundation, which provides life-saving procedures and treatment for children with heart disease around the world.
More than $750,000 has been raised since the local Rotary club’s first auction was held in 2000.
Auctioneer Wayne Addison, a Rotarian who has emceed the Greenfield Gift of Life auction since its inception, is thankful that the online auction will still be able to raise money for a great cause, while opening up bids to participants from around the world.
Auction participants can log on to his auction website starting April 26 to view and bid on a wide variety of items. Bids will close at 6 p.m. May 1.
Rotary club president Kirk Jocham, a local attorney, thinks this year’s auction will still be a great success, in more ways than one.
“Success of an event like this is not just measured in terms of dollars raised. Continually making the community aware that Gift of Life exists and has existed for so many years is a large plus,” he said.
According to giftoflifeinternational.org, the program has helped more than 38,000 children over the past four decades, in 80 countries spanning five continents.
Gift of Life funds support teams of doctors from Riley Hospital for Children who perform surgeries and provide follow-up care. Sometimes the teams travel to treat children in developing countries, while other times children are flown to the Indianapolis hospital to be treated.
The Gift of Life also supports the children’s families, who often stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children receive care.
“It’s a wonderful program,” said local attorney Marie Castetter, who is co-chairing this year’s auction with Debra Cochran Smith, director of Greenfield Main Street.
The two women have worked to switch the auction to an online format.
“Even though we can’t host a dinner this year, we knew we still had to do something. There’s still a need for children to have these lifesaving surgeries,” said Castetter, a Rotary club member.
It was helpful that Addison already had an online auction platform set up for his auction business, she said.
Bidders will be able to bid anonymously on a wide variety of items, including bicycles donated by Greenfield Beverage and jewelry donated by Miller’s Jewelers, as well as handcrafted items created by local Rotarians.
There’s also a wine basket; Kate Spade purses; a tour at DeBrand Fine Chocolates in Fort Wayne; Carburetion Day tickets to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; and a perennial favorite — two one-week stays at a Mexican resort.
“We’ve had wonderful support from businesses throughout Hancock County,” said Castetter, who added that event organizers felt bad about soliciting donations this year when businesses were already struggling so much over the past year.
To help give local businesses an extra boost, Rotarians have been purchasing gift cards from local businesses, in addition to gift cards that have been donated.
An anonymous club member offered a $2,500 match if fellow Rotarians were able to gather $2,500 in items and gift cards from local businesses, and the club quickly met the match, resulting in more than $5,000 worth of items up for auction from local shops, restaurants and service providers.
“We’re proud to be able to support local businesses that have had it rough this year, from not only the pandemic but local road construction, which makes it hard to get to some of them,” Castetter said.
Addison was also happy for the chance to support local businesses.
“They’re always giving, but this has allowed us to help them make a little money too, which is great,” he said.
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The Rotary Club of Greenfield is having its annual Gift of Life auction virtually this year.
The bids open on April 26 and will close at 6 p.m. May 1.
To register and participate online, go to anotheraddisonauction.hibid.com and click on the Register tab at the bottom of the page.
The Gift of Life auction benefits the international Gift of Life organization, which provides lifesaving cardiac treatment to children in need from developing countries.
The goal is to develop sustainable pediatric cardiac programs by implementing screening, surgical and training missions which are supported by autonomous Gift of Life programs, Rotary Global Grants and generous donors from around the world.
The organization has funded the treatment of more than 38,000 children in 80 different countries over the past 45 years.
For more information, visit giftoflifeinternational.org,
According to Gift of Life, financial support can go along way:
$50 could provide regular exams following surgery
$100 could provide medicines needed to ensure a healthy recovery
$250 could provide 6 months of nutritional assistance prior to surgery
$500 could provide one year of nutritional assistance following surgery
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