A Silent Auction to help South End Students with College's 'Hidden Costs'

Auctions make for curious and revealing studies of human behavior… and they’re great for fundraising.

As someone that’s done a fair bit of business on ebay both as a merchant and consumer, I can attest to the inexplicably zealous fever that overcomes people when they have to have something. It gets personal. It gets heated. Budgets fly out the window… bid now, cry later. And that’s in an anonymous setting; just imagine all the added tension when it happens in person.

This Thursday, the Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association (BFSNA) is holding a silent auction at , 700 Harrison Ave. BFSNA prides itself on promoting higher education in the South End, and the auction is devised to raise funds for the College Book-Computer Scholarship. The money is designated to assist South End high school seniors heading to college in the fall with the “hidden expenses” above and beyond their tuition.

Last year’s event attracted over 100 people. This year’s will likely attract more, especially since BFSNA has sweetened the pot: it’s now a 50/50 raffle/auction. So, the grand total gets divided in half and awarded to a raffle ticketholder while the other half gets divvied amongst the scholarship recipients. And it all happens fast: the entire event runs just about two hours.

“We send out information about the scholarship to schools, churches, youth groups and the library,” BFSNA Treasurer David Wisholeck said over the phone yesterday. “We’re always looking for new ways to let people know about it. Last year we had 20 applicants and we were able to award five of them with $1,000 each. This is only our second year doing the auction and we’ve already doubled the number of donations. We never imagined it would be such a roaring success.”

This year’s auction is shaping up to be quite the grab bag of goodies, featuring dining certificates from and , dinner for four from Post 390 and South End Buttery, designer jewelry from Joanne Modica, photography from artists Debby Krim and Lynda Houston plus much, much more.

Additionally, free appetizers will be supplied by Pita (Mediterranean), (Indian), Siraj (Greek & Indian fusion) and, of course, Estragon (Spanish). There will also be a cash bar.

“We’re so grateful to everyone that’s contributed to this event in any way, but particularly to the folks at Estragon,” Wisholeck said. “They’ve donated their space to us two years running to facilitate this and it’s just really commendable how neighborhood-focused and willing to help they are."

“Overall, this is just a fantastic opportunity for our Neighborhood Association to give back to the community around us, which is something we feel is of prime importance,” he continued. “It’s also a chance for us to support local businesses, higher education and it’s a fun night for all of our neighbors.”

At press time there were less than 20 advance tickets left, but stragglers can always pay at the door. Advance tickets are $25/ea. or $40/pair. Tickets at the door are a flat $30/ea. The BFSNA Silent Auction is Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6 - 8 p.m. at , 700 Harrison Avenue. Go here and read directions on the left side panel to purchase the remaining advance tickets.