Press Release

Auction results

11/8/10

COLDWATER, MI— Leis and laughter were the highlights on Saturday night at the Tibbits “Tropical Extravaganza” themed auction where nearly $50,000 was raised to benefit the opera house.

A large crowd of around 300 supporters and friends attended the 31st annual auction to bid on items as varied as a whirlpool bathtub, a Nook, an iPad, theatre packages, a Hawaiian trip and jewelry on stage for the live auction. Excitement continued to build with bidding for several of the largest items offered including the Prime Rib Dinner by the Merrill’s, the annual hog roast package and the Barton S. Tibbits sponsorship for four tickets for every event in the theatre for the year. For the tenth straight year the Tibbits Sponsorship went to Ed and Norma Geishert for a winning bid of $5000. Geisherts were also high bidders for the evening.

Tibbits Executive Director Christine Delaney expressed her gratitude to the community. “The support from businesses and individuals who donate to the auction and from those who bid is tremendous. We had a fun evening and it was nice to have a great turnout and to see so many new faces in the crowd.”

Internationally renowned auctioneer David Norton and his team were the “masters of the bidding wars” keeping the on stage bidding fast, fun and furious. Norton Auctioneers involvement and support began at the very first auction in November of 1979. Since then, the auction has raised over 1.2 million dollars for the opera house. The 2009 auction grossed about $52,000.

More bidders gathered in the art gallery for the silent auction trying to out strategize each other to win items ranging from gift certificates to area establishments, art, and a hand-cut ostrich egg, to dishes, books, hair care products, pies and bison meat.

The auction depends on volunteers to put the event together. According to Delaney, “We had a dedicated group who did a wonderful job. I can’t thank them enough.” Auction co-chairs were Marisue Taylor and Marilyn Ostrander.  The auction committee included Sheryl Case, Linda Lintner, Linda Bowers, Marcia Guise, Mackenzie Longstreet and Tibbits staff coordinator, Becky Murfin.

More than 50 volunteers helped with the auction from soliciting to computer inputting to set up. Delaney recognized the volunteers along with the wonderful donors and bidders who helped to make this year’s auction one of the best ever.