Auction to be held for Catholic schools

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 3, 2003

Carousels and fortune-telling machines will help create a carnival atmosphere Saturday night for people attending "A Night in Coney Island," this year's auction to benefit the Austin Catholic schools.

"It's the atmosphere," Marlene Blaser, chairperson for the auction, said. "We have hor devours like pigs-in-a-blanket and colored popcorn, things you would get someplace like Coney Island."

The Auction will take place at St. Edward's Church in the Corcoran Center. Pacelli High School students will provide valet parking for the attendees when they arrive. Once inside, the silent auction begins. There are about 500 items for sale at the silent auction, including a football signed by the Green Bay Packers and something from each class in the Austin Catholic school system.

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"Each class has a theme," Blaser said. "They donate things and make a basket out of it. We've got all the kids involved."

Themes such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Legos and ice cream will be represented by student baskets.

After a dinner, the live auction starts. Some of the Pacelli sports team members will be among the 81 items up for auction. They have donated their time for yard work and other labor. Also, a week-long trip to Sanibel Island, Fla., worth $3,200 is scheduled to be sold.

A number of items, including a laptop computer, $500 in groceries and a $1,000 tuition credit for the Austin Catholic School system will be given as raffle prizes.

This year will be the 11th year for the auction. Last year, it brought in $52,000 to benefit Catholic schools.

A donor night, for all of the people and organizations that donated items to the auction will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Blaser said the 350 people who bought tickets set an attendance record for the auction.

"This year is the biggest one yet," Blaser said. "To have this many people, it's going to be a lot of fun."

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com