HCWC Annual Auction Raises Over $100,000 For Local Victims Of Abuse
On Saturday, April 18th HCWC hosted the 31st Annual Auction at LBJ Student Center at Texas State University with Hero Sponsor, RP Constructors, Inc. The evening highlighted a celebration of HCWC’s Elva Gonzalez’s 35 years of service working with victims of abuse. Over 360 people attended this annual event which featured Black’s BBQ for dinner, photo booth for guests to take fun photos, bucket raffle as well as silent and live auction items.
This year’s theme was 1979 marking Elva Gonzalez’s first year with HCWC. Upon introducing a video tribute to Elva and HCWC, Executive Director, Marla Johnson asked us to “think back – way back to 1979. How many changes have you experienced since then? Some of you (guests) weren’t even born in 1979 so your ENTIRE LIFE has taken place during that time.” She added that upon checking on an online calculator, she “found that from Elva’s start date to today, there have been 9006 work days and in that time, she has gotten up and rushed off to a full day of non-stop action at HCWC, some of which meant leaving a Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering or rushing out in the middle of the night to respond to the hospital when it is her turn to take on-call. Every day was an unknown where she would likely be THE ONE to help someone she had never before met who was facing a terrible crisis.”
This year, new emcee, David Bisett helped set the tone for the evening with longtime Auctioneer, Leonard Germer taking charge of the Live Auction portion for the evening. This year’s trips included local jaunts, as well as Pebble Beach and Victoria/Vancouver, Canada. Some long-distance donors were on the phone bidding for one of the new trips added this year, “Spooky Vegas” – a week-long trip to Las Vegas over Halloween. Two of the most popular fundraising appeals were the 52 card-cut that gave participants a 1 in 52 chance at winning the newly released Apple Watch and our Matching Jar which gave donors a chance at “doubling” their donation that was matched by Hero Sponsor, RP Constructors, Inc. The jar, along with the match helped raise $9,614.
HCWC broke last year’s previous record by successfully raising $109,771.50 in funding for HCWC. HCWC Board Member and Auction Chair, Kay Wilson said, “Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for all the hard work it took to make this year such a success. I was so excited to see that the auction broke records. Thanks to sponsors, item donors and everyone who attended and bid on items to help support HCWC and its efforts to serve victims of abuse and violence. I am so grateful to be a part of such an important organization”. Funds raised at the auction will help provide free and confidential direct services to local victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Last year, HCWC served 1,766 face-to-face services to victims from Hays and Caldwell counties.
The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has a 38-year history of serving women, men and children in Hays and Caldwell Counties who are victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse. All HCWC services are free and confidential. For more information please visit www.hcwc.org or call (512) 396-HELP.
