270 social clubs bidding for a cause “The bidding starts at $6, can I get six? OK, how about $7? $7, good, now guys, remember this is for a date and dinner. $8, we’ve got eight, nine, ten, $11, $11 for this basket with dinner for two, eleven going once, going twice, and GONE,” auctioneer Dr. David Burks said. Those were the words that Dr. Burks exclaimed, encouraging guys to bid higher and higher as he played auctioneer for the day on behalf of Ju Go Ju and Ko Jo Kai social clubs for their fundraiser held on Nov. 6 on the front lawn. It was an afternoon filled with fun and excitement as basket bidding, baked goods selling, great food eating and live music playing took place. One of Ju Go Ju’s service project directors said they wanted to do a service project with another club, and the service project director from Ko Jo Kai suggested the idea of the Basket Bid. “We had the idea of selling dinner baskets to people who were willing to buy them, “ junior Ju Go Ju member Anna Reynolds said. Members from each club donated baskets with a meal for two. The baskets were then auctioned off, and the winner was rewarded with having dinner on the front lawn with the person that made the basket. To set the mood, juniors Joel Blake, Jason Wood, Blake Cobb, Donna Dority, Andy Dean and Brandon Johnson played an acoustic set while the fundraiser took place. A few songs they played were “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles, “The Scientist” by Coldplay, “Your Guardian Angel” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and “You and Me” by Lifehouse. “The band chose an acoustic set for a chill atmosphere that was fun to hang out and eat the food that was being auctioned off,” Ju Go Ju service project director senior April Augsburger said. Senior Austin Click, who was a two-basket buyer, said he thought the music was a nice touch to the evening. The turnout from the first-time event was better than the clubs’ service project directors had anticipated. “We had an excellent response from the girls in our club wanting to help out and participate in any way they could,” senior Ko Jo Kai member Lara Haynes said. “The participation from our two clubs was incredible! Although we did what we could to get other people to attend, I wish a few more people had shown up to bid on the baskets. They really missed out on some good food!” Overall, both clubs said the event was a success, raising a total of $507. Ju Go Ju and Ko Jo Kai split the total and donated their halves to the charity of their choice. Ko Jo Kai gave their donation to the Sunshine School, and Ju Go Ju gave to their “Our Kristen Foundation,” which helps financially support families who have unexpectedly lost children. “Our girls put a lot of creativity into the baskets, and they had a lot of fun at the event,” Haynes said. “It was almost like a function in some ways, but as a bonus, it raised money for two great causes. It was exciting to see our clubs come together to hang out, have a good time and do something to help others.” Allison Weaver auctioned baskets raise money for charity
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