This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Sell-out Crowd Supports Chaminade Esto Vir Auction

Parents, alumni and friends of the Red Devils gather for the annual Creve Coeur event in record numbers.

According to one event organizer,  Esto Vir Auction, held Saturday night in Creve Coeur, was sold out. Esto Vir, latin for "Be A Man", is the school's motto. Event co-chair Mart Stieven said 410 people came out for an eveningin support of the school's largest annual fundraiser.

Proceeds go to the operating budget, as well as funding a scholarship. Chaminade’s director of marketing, Michelle Ostermueller, said each year is different, with different goals, but that each year the goals are exceeded. She estimated that this year several hundred thousand dollars would be raised.

 Before the auction, the scholarship fund stood at $199,610, and a fully endowed scholarship is attained at $200,000. The goal for the night was to raise $50,000 to fully fund the current scholarship and get a good start for a new one.

Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Co-chair Chris Kern said, “We had hundreds of amazing volunteers that made this night possible.” She said the auction was supported by parents and alumni, as well as by many area businesses.

 In addition to the usual silent and live auction, this year, supporters could purchase a champagne flute with a bauble in the bottom. Of the 150 champagne flutes, two of the “baubles” were 1.12 carrot diamonds, valued at $6,000. The rest were cubic zirconium. An onsite jeweler certified if the purchase was the real deal or just pretty to look at.

Find out what's happening in Creve Coeurwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Another new twist this year was that Chaminade brought in a professional fundraising auctioneer. David Goodman, president of Auction Results, combined fast-talking auctioneer skills with magic and sleight of hand.

 “I’m kind of nervous, because I brought lighter fluid for him,” Ostermueller said. Goodman started his act with a flaming checkbook that he held in his hands.

 James Lewis and his wife, Mary, were there. They’ve had three sons graduate from Chaminade, and are strong supporters. Browsing through the live auction items, which included a Shih-Poo puppy, a Red Devil golf cart, and a Napa Valley Getaway, the Lewis’s were most interested in final item, the scholarship, Supporting Education in the Marianist Tradition. “It’s pure giving,” Lewis said.

 

 

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Creve Coeur