The Auction Was a Huge Success! Read Here for the Winning Bids

First, my most heartfelt apology. I am so sorry for making the auction cut-off at midnight, which meant that many of you stayed up way past your bedtimes (including me). What was I thinking? Next year, we’ll end it at a reasonable hour. I promise.

Moving along to the best news: Thanks to you, we did it! Not only did ANC host and complete it’s first official online auction, but at $4,818, we exceeded our goal by more than $800 (which will go into the account for next year’s auction).

Thank you to every one of you who donated an item to make this first auction possible. Thank you to those who bid on items. Thank you to those who made the decision to donate money, rather than bid on a material item or a service. (More about how to address checks later.)

You can click her to read about the genesis of the auction, started by that precious, fragile Carr Fire Phoenix that traveled from Wales to Scotland and finally Redding, just for the auction.

The Carr Phoenix glass sculpture, commissioned by Deborah Segelitz, created by artist Paul Jones. This is the auction’s first item.

And you can click here to read Monday’s post in which I described how the auction would work, and listed all the auction items.

For those who wish to write a check to contribute to this cause, please make the check out to A News Cafe Carr Fire Scholarship, and write the account number in the memo field: 157514801891 and mail it to 1700 Pine St. Redding, CA 96001, or any US Bank branch.

Initially, we decided the funds would benefit selected graduating high school seniors who lost a home in the Carr Fire. Then the Camp Fire erupted, a disaster that made the Carr Fire look like, well, a campfire. After checking in with you for input, we decided to divide the scholarship fund between the Carr Fire and Camp Fire survivors. Our goal was to raise $4000, so we could give $1,000 to four students. We will do that, but the scholarships will be divided between Shasta County and Butte County scholarship applicants.

I am humbled and honored by the outpouring of support and interest showed in this auction to benefit young people who lost everything.

We’ve already heard from people who wish to donate for next year’s auction, from original art to whimsical garden stakes, and for that, I am supremely grateful.

The auction was over by 11:59 p.m. Monday. I’m posting this a few minutes after midnight, just as soon as Joe and I could tally the bids so I could report the results.

Heartfelt appreciation to the donors who made this auction possible. Thank you and congratulations to the winners, subscribers who hung in there to secure the highest bid. You have my enduring gratitude.