Boys and Girls Club auction brings in $102,000

The 20th annual Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri auction raised more than double the amount of money collected during last year’s event.

About 300 people attended “An Evening of Heart and Hope” on Friday night at the Missouri Cooperatives Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds for the club’s 20th annual fundraiser. The event featured a silent auction, live auction and a chance to win a car, two Harley Davidson motorcycles or $50,000.

Brett Barth-Fagan, executive director of the club, said Friday’s event generated $102,000, up from about $50,000 raised in 2009.

He said several items, including a set of Waterloo toolboxes and a night out with dinner for eight, went for more than $1,000. Another big ticket draw was the opportunity to sponsor a family.

“We did a special appeal where folks had the opportunity to provide for a child,” Barth-Fagan said. “In that appeal we had one person who donated $10,000 to help five families.”