one of my girlfriends sent this along and asked me to share. — wm

PRESS RELEASE
3/1/11

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Lori Walker
Village Home Education Resource Center
Executive Director
503-484-5191

Email: lori.walker@villagehome.org

On line auction raises friends and funds for non-profit

Village Home Education Resource Center reaches supporters across the country

BEAVERTON, OREGON – March 1, 2011 – On March 5, 2011, Village Home Education Resource Center kicked off its annual auction with a party at the Multnomah Arts Center in southwest Portland. At the event, party goers socialized, ate an array of hors d’oeuvres, and watched a student talent show. Unlike most non-profit auctions, all the bidding will be done on-line for ten days, March 4-13. (Additional auction items can be found here, here and here.)

Village Home, a non-profit resource center that primarily serves homeschooling families in Beaverton, Portland and surrounding communities, decided to switch to the on-line auction in 2010. Director Lori Walker enthusiastically embraced the change and is looking forward to this year’s event.

“In previous years, we had great donations, but buyers were limited to those who attended the auction party,” says Walker. “By going on-line we now have bidders and vendors from all over the country. Last year, fifty per cent of our winning bidders were from outside our community.” Bidders include out of town relatives of Village Home families and a surprising number of on line shoppers who peruse sites like “Bidding for Good” for bargains on everything from gift cards to spa packages. Despite the overhead costs of using the on-line service, gross profits went up 50 percent in the 2010 Village Home auction.

Walker recommends on-line auctions for other non-profits, both for the monetary gain and for the increased attention for the organization. “The on-line auction is raising money and raising friends for Village Home at the same time,” says Walker.

Village Home Auction on Bidding for Good

Village Home is a dynamic, choice-based learning community creatively integrating family, education and real life to empower learners of all ages. Located in the Portland, Oregon metro area, we offer community, classes, and more for learners of all ages, by providing academic and social enrichment in a family-friendly environment.