Vineyarders dig deep for scholarship fund
Marion MacKay browses at all the tempting choices on the silent auction display. Photos by Ralph Stewart
By Pat Waring - May 17, 2007
A crowd of generous Vineyarders looking to have a good time and do a good deed turned out for the annual Holy Ghost Association Scholarship Auction at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs on May 4. The always-popular event raised a total of $22,000 all of which will help provide scholarships for graduating Vineyard seniors. The main action was in the old hall while silent auction tables heaped with treasures and a great spread of tasty hors d'oeuvres were set up in the soup kitchen.
John Powers kept the auction going and the bids coming on dozens of donated items including gift certificates for meals and salon services, caretaking and furnace maintenance, jewelry, artwork, handmades, gift baskets and much more. The FARM Institute donated a week of camp for one child, Bob and Donna Tankard contributed one week at their New Hampshire lodge, Howard Sashin gave labor for drywall installation, while the Tivoli Paint Co. offered 72 gallons of deck stain. A very unique item was an original drawing of Clifford the famous Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell and there was a photo of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as well as medical services for which Gerald Yukevich, MD, himself an auctioneer of some repute, stepped in to encourage the bidding.
Dr. Gerry Yukevich was a stalwart guest auctioneer, and even with laryngitis he kept the bidding upbeat and active.
As usual the most glamorous and sought-after item was the Boston Getaway Extravaganza including four Red Sox tickets donated by Tony daRosa, along with lunch or dinner for four at Game's On and two rooms at the Charles Hotel, the gifts of Patrick Lyons. Bids flew back and forth until the getaway finally went for $2,750.
A 10-member scholarship auction committee works hard for many weeks ahead of time to gather donations from individuals and businesses. The volunteers also plan and set up the event, working long hours the days before the auction and at the event itself.
"It's all for the kids so that's what keeps us going," said committee member Jenny Pye.
