Charity auction will benefit Tri-Valley United Way
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – The inspiration for an event that will net thousands of dollars for the local United Way is a classic case of one person’s trash being another’s treasure.

Just weeks after Nancy Morgan became the new executive director last spring of the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, which covers Franklin County, Livermore and Livermore Falls, a local furniture store owner donated a chair at the organization’s Farmington office.

Save for a tiny nick, which prevented the store from being able to sell the chair, it was perfect, Morgan said.

When deciding what to do with the chair, the idea of auctioning it off came to mind.

Fast forward a few months and that chair is just one of 181 items to be auctioned off this Friday evening at the Granary Restaurant and Brew Pub.

Other items range from Oxford Plains Speedway tickets to afghans, and from used cars to a framed mint-condition front page of the Philadelphia Morning Post, dated July 4, 1863, featuring coverage of the battle at Gettysburg.

All proceeds from the auction will go to the United Way area’s Capital Campaign, which is being chaired by Wilton couple Sam Elowitch and Leah Binder. This year’s campaign goal is $425,000, the largest goal ever.

“Oh yes. Oh yes, we can make it,” said Morgan optimistically. “We have to.”

A month after the kick-off and around $85,000 has been raised. After the auction, Morgan expects that amount to topple $100,000.

Friday’s event represents a strong push by Morgan to find innovative ways to raise funds in the post-recession economy.

By getting local business owners, who might not be able to donate cash, to pitch in with product, Morgan said a more diverse cross section of people can be involved in making the community a healthier and safer place. Plus, she said, it’s a chance for local vendors to indirectly show off their products.

“We have so many unique products created by people in this area,” Morgan explained. “The products are made here and they are made to be used here. You can’t put a value on this locally hand-crafted stuff and it’s these unique pieces that make a home.”

The auction, which will be led by legendary local caller Adrian Harris, is also a way to put the fun back in fund-raiser. “Even with bad economic times, we are optimistic,” said Morgan. “But one of the things we knew we would have to do this year is have some fun with this campaign so people felt good about being involved. There is a social interaction piece to this auction and we hope people will feel good knowing they are walking away having just really helped out their community.”

United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is a clearinghouse for more than 25 area social service agencies that improve the quality of life for area residents including teenagers, infants and elders.

For more information about the auction, call 778-5048, or about the campaign, log on to www.uwtva.org.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

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