CDRI’s BBQ & Auction is another one for the record books!
The results are in, and we’re happy to report another record-setting event, with gross revenues of nearly $86,000! The fundraiser had its excitement with a whale of a rainstorm! With rain and wind whipping up the four 20’ x 40’ tents, guests and CDRI staff held down tent poles, keeping them from blowing away, while others gathered Silent Auction items that were displayed outside and rushed them inside the Powell Visitor Center. Once the storm had moved on, guests cheerfully wiped down tables and chairs, brought out the Silent Auction items, and both the Silent and the Live Auctions got underway. Our caterers, Lisa and Mark Sanchez, miraculously served a delicious piping hot brisket and sausage dinner. At the same time, musician Rick Ruiz and his band Grupo de la Paz, having kept their instruments dry through the storm, stayed late and kept everyone feeling fine with crowd-favorite tunes.
Overall, everyone seemed delighted to see rain, the temperature dropped dramatically, and our drenched guests could go inside the Powell Visitor Center and choose a dry CDRI t-shirt from the Gift Shop to change into. It turned out to be a fun evening, capped off with a spectacular sunset.
Thank you to each of you who attended, who bought tickets but couldn’t attend, who joined the Host Committee, who donated to the Education Paddle Raise, who donated items to both the Silent and the Live Auctions, and to each of you whose enthusiasm made for some great bidding and a fun evening!
Thank you to Cactus Liquors, Glazer's Distributors, and Fort Davis State Bank for their generous donations. Also, thank you to Shirley Bieller of Alpine Framing for generously donating her services for several of the auctioned framed art pieces. Thank you to Stephen Bright of Cathedral Guitars for providing the sound system and Martin Stringer for his outstanding auctioneering.
One more very important thank you is a must! This one is for our volunteers who set up the tents twice. The first rainstorm on Friday night caused some damage that we didn't tell you about. Thank you to each of you who set up on Friday, returned to set up again on Saturday morning, worked during the event, and who showed up the day after the event to take down and put things away neatly so they'll be ready for next year's fundraiser.
Thank you!
