GRAZIE! After many months of grand schemes and wide recruitment, the last week before the auction was crammed with details. Auction mania had taken over most of the church ... it certainly shaped the lives of the Poepping and Holm families.

As our Evening in Tuscany opened three hundred people arrived to a handsomely decorated space and ables laden with goodies. The festive energy in the room was affirming and infectious.

While final numbers are being tallied this week, we can confidently report that we EXCEEDED our fundraising expectations in every category. What a triumph!

This year we added a Dessert Dash to benefit Habitat for Humanity. UUC has taken the lead role in mobilizing the first Puget Sound UU Habitat build by inviting the eight area UU congregations to join us. Two new and most generous UUC members have stepped forward to match every dollar we raise for this build up to the cost of one-half of the build price ($35,000). Wow! So, on this first Habitat appeal we raised more than $7,000 (for dessert!), or close to $15,000 for this Habitat project.

Our Fund-An-Item this year was in support of kitchen renovations. We need to replace the industrial-size stove, and even the dishwasher and refrigerator. We thought it would be a stretch to replace these appliances. But your overwhelming generosity raised almost $16,000 and it now looks as if we can replace all three items. A miracle!

Our live auction receipts are still being counted and after bills are paid we will be able to announce our final figures very soon. To all persons who donated and purchased items, as well as to the many who made significant contributions as benefactors and sponsors, we express our deepest thanks.

We are grateful to the more than one hundred volunteers who worked on this event. We are especially grateful to the committee leaders, Barbara Dahl, Rosemary Daszkiewicz, Cindy Goodwin, Doug O'Connor, Scott Poepping, Michele Reiswig, Lisa Schachter and Jane Spalding. Our stellar Auction Steering Committee was Judy Bedell, Deborah Person, and Keri Barker-Plumpton. And our Master of Ceremonies was Ken Mundt. A thousand thanks to each of you.

The co-chairs for this auction were Lora Poepping and Kathleen Holm. To them we owe our most vigorous thanks. The auction would not have happened without their leadership and generosity of devotion to UUC. And all this while they continue to wear many significant leadership hats at UUC! It is their kind of magnanimity that helps make UUC the strong and special community it is. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lora and Kathleen.

We have much to be grateful for!

– Rev. Jon Luopa
from The Gateway newsletter, November 20, 2007 (Vol. 63, No. 21)

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