Observer-Reporter, May 8, 2008
By Chris Boron, cboron@psipublishing.com
The women were glowing in their most elegant dresses, and the men looked sharp in their finest tuxedos. And each of them came eager to spend money in the name of charity. The Canton Memorial Civic Center was transformed May 2 into a tropical paradise for the 39th annual Angel Auction sponsored by the Women's Board of Aultman Hospital.
Approximately 500 guests attended the Caribbean fantasy-themed event. Steel drums played in the background while the guests browsed and bid on more than 350 silent auction items.
After dinner, Lori Kiko of Russ Kiko Associates, Inc. took over as she auctioned off more than 40 items during the live auction.
The Angel Auction generated more than $435,000, which surpassed the goal of $400,000.
The largest money-making item was a seven-day stay for five couples at a 10,000-square foot villa in Manzanillo, Mexico. The trip was auctioned off for $17,500.
"A Barrel of Jack Daniel's" was auctioned off for $12,000. Winners of this item will meet the master distiller at the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn., and have their choice of whiskey hand bottled into approximately 240 elegant decanters bearing the famous signature label.
All of the proceeds from the Angel Auction will be used toward the Women's Board of Aultman Hospital's three-year pledge to raise $3 million for the Center for Compassionate Care.
The ground breaking of the Center for Compassionate Care is expected to take place this fall. The Center will be a 12-bed inpatient hospice facility as well as a grieving center for people who have lost loved ones. It will be located behind the Aultman Woodlawn facility.
The Women's Board of Aultman Hospital is composed of more than 300 female community members who each take time to volunteer and raise money for their current pledge.
Jodi Knapik, the director of volunteer services for the Aultman Health Foundation, said the Women's Board members are truly supportive of giving back to their local hospital particularly through the annual Angel Auction.
"It's incredible the amount of hours these women put into this auction," Knapik said. "It's amazing how giving they are of their time and talents. They believe in the cause and raising money for the Center for Compassionate Care."
Lisa Warburton-Gregory, who co-chaired the 2008 Angel Auction with Denise Hill, felt lucky to be a part of such a significant event in Stark County.
"I think we are fortunate because we have a pretty generous community that supports this auction year after year," Warburton-Gregory said.
The Women's Board of Aultman Hospital was created in 1969 to provide services in community relations and fundraising for Aultman Hospital.
More than $17 million has been raised since its inception. With this money, the Women's Board has helped support major Aultman Hospital projects including the Emergency/Trauma Center, NICU, Dialysis Center, Cancer Center and Pediatric Services. The most recent project the board supported was the Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
For more information, visit www.aultmanangelauction.com.
