Okay, so we are thinking about having an auction to raise money for our travels to China to pick up our daughter. We will donate 30% to the orphanage in China. We were thinking only close friends, couples, family and a few of my parents friends who always ask about her and the trip, etc. We would probably invite 50 and hope for 30-35 people.
A friend would be the auctioneer.
We got the idea out of a Real Simple last year and did it for Christmas rather than giving gifts. We donated the money to charity. I thought it sounded awful but it turned out to be a lot of fun.
It will be kind of like a cocktail party with wine, beer and appetizers. Just a fun time with all the people we love. We will have her picture (hopefully) and show either a slide show of adopted international children or a 5 minute clip of a video. I will get a lot of the wine donated by the wine buyer at work. Alcohol= higher bids!!-
We are working on getting the space to hold it in for free at a local university or art gallery.
here are some of the things for auction. we were keeping the people in mind that were coming and having things up for auction that they would enjoy. Any ideas of other things or ways to make it run smooth or cute invitation ideas? Has anyone been to something like this. If a close friend invited you to something like this, what would you think?
--a week of time share--RCI
--a week at a beach vacation home
--2nd row seats to assorted college basketball games (UNC,Duke and Wake Forest)
--hand knitted baby blanket
--autographed Wake Forest ball
--Free night of babysitting by my husband and I
--gift certificates for assorted things----dinners, massages, and cut and color
--wine and assorted gourmet food basket
--free night's stay at a nice resort hotel
--Frette bathrobe
--Free painting of one room in your house
--Riedel pinot noir wine glasses and nice bottle of pinot noir
--free wiring of room in your home
--bottle of PERRIER JOUET champagne (the one with the handpainted flowers on it)
--we were going to do a raffle to guess her birthday
--I was going to take orders to bring back cute cute children's shoes from China(so cute and cheap there---i will post some links)
-- Edited by mikacat at 10:45, 2005-09-20
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There are many languages, but laughter sounds the same in every one.
I think it is a very great idea and such a generous way to give your time and yourselves to your new baby and her home country. I would definitely attend.
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"Whatever you are, be a good one." --Abraham Lincoln
I think it sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to involve those that are dear to you in your upcoming adoption. I would be really excited to attend this event. It is always fun to do something out of the ordinary and everyone loves wine and classy locales! Those are all wonderful prizes. You probably don't even need to offer so many.