From staff reports
Registration is now open for the 43rd annual Clarion Rotary Community Auction at clarionrotary.com. The eBay-style online auction kicks off at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28 and runs four days.
Hundreds of new items and gift cards donated from local businesses will be auctioned off with proceeds funding local Rotary Club initiatives. Pre-registration and early browsing of auction items is available now at clarionrotary.com.
“The auction is truly a community event with over 200 businesses generously donating items or financial support,” said Rotary Auction Committee Co-Chairperson, Cynthia Nellis.
Over the four-day auction, over 300 items will be auctioned off. Hundreds of auction items close each day of the auction.
“We have thousands of dollars in gift cards to auction off as well as memberships, tickets, hotel stays, building materials, and electronics,” Nellis continued that financial support of the auction is provided by Penn Highlands Healthcare.
“We are passionate about supporting the Clarion community,” said Dave Trudell, system director, marketing, communications, and sales for Penn Highlands Healthcare. “The auction is unique as it brings so many people and businesses together within the Clarion community.”
Bidding in the online auction works the same as online bidding on ebay.com. Potential bidders will be able to view images and read descriptions of items up for auction on clarionrotary.com before placing a bid online.
To place a bid, potential bidders need only to register with an email address and complete the log-in process. Outbid notices will automatically be emailed to bidders.
Bidders do not need a credit card to bid online, however, may use cash, check, or credit card to pay for goods in-person on pick-up day slated for April 1, at the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry.
Items up for bid in the auction include a Meta Quest 2 Advanced All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset, a Nintendo Switch, a Weber Natural gas grill, wine-making supplies, and Pirate’s tickets as well as traditional favorites including flooring, massages, outdoor equipment, YETI coolers and hundreds of gift cards to local restaurants, retailers, healthcare providers and home services.
“The Clarion Rotary Club and our community business leaders have come together once again to bring you one of the biggest local fundraisers of the year. Every single dollar is injected right back into the Clarion community.” Jarred Heuer, Rotary auction committee co-chairperson said.
“These funds are used to support our local students in the form of five academic and civic related scholarships, multiple leadership academies and have also helped build and support local community resources like the Clarion Hospital Cancer Center and your YMCA,” Heuer added and estimated that the auction raises between $23,000 and $25,000 each year.
“The amount of support this auction has received this year from our local businesses is remarkable. Most small businesses had a very difficult year in 2022 with an ambivalent outlook for 2023, yet most were more than willing to support the Clarion Rotary auction. That says something about the impact this fundraiser has locally but it also speaks volumes about our community business leaders,” Nellis explained.
Pre-registration and feature photos with descriptions of items are available now at clarionrotary.com. Don’t forget bidding starts at 6 a.m. on March 28. Inquiries about the auction may be sent to clarionrotarycommunityauction@gmail.com.
Rotary International unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 36,000 rotary clubs in almost every country in the world.
Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
For more information, visit Rotary.org.