Upcoming Central Christian Auction crucial to Kidron school
As far as fundraisers go, this is the big one for Central Christian.On Feb. 27, Central Christian school will enter into one of the most important days of the year, the annual Central Christian School Auction. The auction, which begins at 9 a.m., is matched 100 percent, up to $100,000, making it the single most important fundraiser the school puts on.
“This is our big one,” said Bruce Kooker, Central Christian advancement director. “We rely on this auction to help subsidize our students’ education.”
Kooker said that the school figures that they subsidize between 30 and 35 percent of each student’s education costs annually, meaning that the need for this auction, along with community service day and general donations from the public are crucial to continue operations.
“I think there’s a misnomer out there that tuition pays for the cost of education for our students,” said Kooker. “That’s not true. Even when students are paying the full rate for tuition, we still need to subsidize about 35 percent just to break even. That’s why this auction and other fundraisers are so important.”
While patrons will be doing their part at the auction, what’s exciting for Central Christian is that all of the proceeds brought in through the auction will be matched up to $100,000 by private individuals and businesses.
“That’s impressive,” said Kooker, of the matching funds. “That is such a blessing to us, and we can never tell those people who have graciously stepped up to provide matching funds how grateful we truly are.”
The list of items up for auction is impressive, with a lot of high-end merchandise, down to countless smaller items, ensuring that there is something there to fit anyone’s budget. “I think one of the most exciting things about this auction is that it offers so much for people to buy, no matter how big their wallet is,” said Kooker.
Included in the list are a 1982 Honda Goldwing 1100cc motorcycle in good condition; a 2003 Honda VTX 1800 R Cruiser motorcycle in immaculate condition; a pre-owned Ventrac 4100 in good condition, which includes a $500 certificate for attachments; a custom painting of a mural; a hog roast; $50 Walnut Creek Cheese gift certificate; two $25 lunch certificates for the Pine Tree Barn; 98-by-108 Lone Star quilt; Lone Star quilt, 95-by-109; numerous other quilts; four boxes of veal patties - 48 patties in each 12-pound box; 10 racks of barbecue ribs; Coblentz Chocolate gift basket; 100-feet of guttering and leaf guard with downspouts included; five $100 gift certificates to Home Appliance; 1,500-square-foot of blacktop on prepared base within 40 miles of Holmesville; insulated ProVia entrance door and storm door, installed by Wayne Door; $200 certificate for Servpro carpet and upholstery cleaning; modern grandfather clock; two new luggage bags; a coffee table; Maytag 25cf dual refrigerator with a bottom freezer; Stihl gas blower; 30-inch steel copper fire pit; New Holland 8160 model tractor; Berlin Load Master wagon; two wooden children’s rocking chairs (one Cavs, one Indians); golf foursome to Westfield Country Club; four season tickets to College of Wooster 2010-11 men’s basketball games; four Indians tickets to the April 15 Indians vs. Texas game (three rows behind the Indians dugout, parking pass included); certificate for one night’s lodging at Comfort Suites in Millersburg; Barn Inn one night voucher; condo in Destin, Fla. (between Pensacola and Panama City), sleeps six; three-day stay at Lake Buckhorn home by 12/20/10; $50 gift card to Keim Lumber; $25 gift card to Gospel Bookstores; Dutchman Hospitality/Carlisle Inn gift basket vouchers; $100 Village Motors gift card; $50 LE Sommer gift certificate; choice of arrowheads from a collection; an 1840 $1 bank note issued by the German Bank of Wooster and much more. Former Central graduate and award-winning auctioneer Joseph Mast will be running the auction.
To get the auction day started right, bidders and supporters are invited to attend the pancake breakfast hosted by the Central Christian girls’ softball team. The breakfast is by donation. Service will run from 6:30-9 a.m. A complete listing of auction items can be seen at ccscomets.org.