March 2022: Oaklawn auction will go virtual

IN THE PHOTO: Cindy Lake (left), Oaklawn’s development coordinator, and Jenna Ellis, Oaklawn’s development manager, are shown with just a few of the items up for bid during the 32nd annual Oaklawn Benefit Auction, to be conducted online March 17-25. 

During March 2022, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ...

~ Oaklawn's second virtual benefit auction goes online from March 17 to 25 ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – For the second year, Oaklawn volunteers and staffers are keeping a longtime tradition alive by bringing community supporters together online for their 32nd annual Benefit Auction. 

The health-care organization's “Feelin’ Lucky” auction – a response to the global coronavirus pandemic – promises to keep all its participants safe and healthy even as it raises money to purchase two new Dräger medical ventilators for the hospital. 

To achieve that goal, volunteers hope to collect at least $75,000 as online bidders compete for hundreds of items that already have been donated for the virtual auction, including trips, event and show tickets, memorabilia, specialty products, services, and gift certificates. 

The auction is to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 17, and continue until 1 p.m. Friday, March 25. The event will be accessible at oaklawnhospital.org/benefit-auction, where visitors already may view a “how-to” video explaining the auction process, purchase raffle tickets and make donations. 

While no live auction is planned, a new video will be featured each day of the event, said Jenna Ellis, Oaklawn's development manager. These also may be viewed on Oaklawn’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oaklawnauction. Some activities will be featured as they happen, including silent-auction previews and raffle draws as the auction concludes.

To encourage participation and donations, all entry fees are being waived this year.

“More people than ever now will be able to join us and help our cause,” Ellis said. “We’re encouraging donors to use the money they typically would spend on their entry ticket instead on our great raffles and many silent-auction items.” 

Those with questions about the event may contact Ellis at (269) 789-7494 or  jlellis@oaklawnhospital.com. 

Two raffles will be conducted, sponsored by BluFish Consulting of Marshall and the Marshall Community Credit Union. Tickets will be sold individually for $10, six for $50 and 13 for $100. Two winners are to be selected at 12:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, and they may select one of three prizes, which include: 

– An “outdoor luxury package” valued at $2,710, featuring a 33-inch Breeo Luxeve Fire Pit, two YETI brand basecamp chairs and a BluFish-branded RTIC cooler.

– Equipment for a “virtual game night,” valued at $2,380 and including a 50-inch Samsung "The Frame" television screen, a 32-inch Arcade 1Up Infinity Game Table, an Oculus Quest 2 virtual-reality set and a JBL Flip 5 speaker.

– A $1,500 check made out to the winner.

Packages donated by individuals and regional businesses for the silent auction include an array of specialty products, services and gift certificates.

“As always, we’re deeply grateful to all those who’ve worked so hard to bring these donations together,” Ellis said. “It's another demonstration of how people throughout our community turn out to support each other in times of need.”

Donated and especially prepared items already in hand include:

– A 50-ticket party package to the Budweiser Dog House at a Battle Creek Battle Jacks baseball game at C.O. Brown Stadium, including food and five beverage tabs.

– A 25-ticket party package at Bell’s Beer Cave at a Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game at Mayors Riverside Park in Kalamazoo, including food and four beverage tickets.

– Two tickets to musical superstar Elton John’s show on April 5 at Van Angel Arena in Grand Rapids, donated by NN Inc. Autocam.

– A football autographed by former quarterback Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the Michigan Wolverines and current Michigan head coach. 

– A full membership at The Medalist Golf Club and Banquet Facility, including golf, cart and range access, donated by The Medalist. 

– A two-night vacation stay at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California, including a $500 Visa gift card provided by AirWay to supplement air fare and/or travel expenses.

– Four tickets to the MOS-Xerox Suite at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit for the Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators game April 12. The package valued at $1,000 includes food and beverages.

– A “do it yourself vacation package” valued at $500, donated by Air-Way Manufacturing. It includes an AirBnB gift card and a Visa gift card to supplement air fare and other travel expenses.

A favorite vacation package offered again this year is a seven-day stay in England for two people, valued at $3,000, donated by Marshall resident Tom Franke, who has contributed similar excursions to the auction in past years. 

Franke said past winners were delighted by the visit to a part of the United Kingdom they’d never before considered.

That package may be split between two Abacus Hotels – the LeStrange Arms Hotel in Old Hunstanton and the Knight’s Hill Hotel near King’s Lynn. Both are in the English county of Norfolk. With an extension, the trip may be scheduled after the global pandemic lifts.

Over the years, Oaklawn's annual auctions have raised more than $2 million to provide patient assistance and purchase clinical equipment for direct patient care.