SALT LAKE CITY, UT (BRAIN)—Bikes for Kids Utah annual fundraising dinner auction, held recently at Cucina Nassi, raised $30,000, its highest total ever and nearly $13,000 more than last year, in support of its cause to provide new bikes to underprivileged grade school children.
"It was definitely the best dinner auction that we've had," said Debbie Reid, founder and president of Bikes for Kids Utah. "Everyone had a really good time and at the same time helped get more kids off the couch on some bikes."
The year's event was attended by more than 200 supporters who generously bid on the more than 100 silent and live auction items, according to a press release. Among the items were a flat screen TV, several "Trips for Fundraising" vacations to the West Indies, the Amazon and Italy and two University of Utah Football VIP boxed seats with dinner. Other items included autographed footballs from the Brigham Young University and Utah football teams, luxury seats to Utah Jazz NBA games and a trip for two to the Grammy Awards.
With the cost of giving away 1,000 bicycles, helmets and locks increasing each year, Bikes for Kids moved the dinner and auction to the larger Cucina Nassi and saw immediate results.
"We had a larger venue and were able to sell more seats," said Reid. "We also had our first experience with a live auction and that really added to the atmosphere and created some excitement for some of the items."
Reid said Bikes for Kids needs approximately $65,000 to reach its annual goal of giving away 1,000 bicycles.
"It's awesome that with our one big night we could raise almost half of what we need to put on our event," Reid said.
The dinner and live auction is Bikes for Kids Utah's last fundraising event for this year. The date for the bike giveaway and Century Bike Ride is May 21, 2011.
