CELEBRATION OF HOPE

2007

Houston Silent Auction Celebrates In Style the Promise of South African Children

Celebration of Hope was the theme on September 15th, 2007 for 25:40’s first ever and very successful silent auction. 25:40 board member Jack Lewis, his wife Melanie and a circle of their close friends, organized a huge fund-raiser for 25:40 that was as fun as it was successful.

Set in the funky and artsy décor of the Indian Summer Lodge in The Heights area of Houston, TX, about 130 people sipped South African wine provided by The Houston Wine Merchant, dined on a wonderful buffet provided by Compleat Cuisine, while Harmony Strings serenaded from above. All evening, people browsed, elbowed, and competed for the more than 50 items donated to the auction. Items included

• Two one-week stay at a six-bedroom house in Park City Utah which includes lift tickets, golf and fishing, donated by Rick Wallace of Potomac, MD,.
• Airline tickets provided by Continental Airlines
• A 3-night stay at a Rosemary Beach, Fla. flat donated by Sid Trant
• Peyton Manning autographed football donated by Peyton Manning
• Roger Clemens autographed jersey donated by the Roger Clemens Foundation
• Manchester United Jersey signed by Ronaldo donated by Manchester United Football Club
• Craig Biggio and Nolan Ryan autographed baseballs donated by The Houston Astros
• Eli Manning autographed football donated by The New York Giants
• Tickets to various sporting events donated by King & Spalding and other friends of 25:40
• South African art including a beautiful acrylic collage painted by Shane Mark Harty donated by The Gite Gallery
• Custom jewelry including a stunning necklace donated by Gavin Metalsmith in San Antonio
• Photograph donated by Nashville Photographer Michael Torian
• Jazz Funeral Oil Painting donated by New Orleans artist Gene Lafitte
• Hotel Getaways  donated by Hotel Galvez (Galveston), Four Season (Austin), Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental (Austin)
• Rwandan Coffee donated by Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee
• Wine donated by Sonoma Wine Tours
• Whataburgers for a Year by Whataburger
• Photograph by Justin Ulmer
• Flavia Fusion Drink Station donated  by Mars Drinks N.A.
• Rounds of Golf donated by Carlton Woods (The Woodlands) and Meadowbrook Farms GC (Katy)
• Gift Certificates from Amerigo’s Restaurant, Perry’s Restaurants, and Goose’s Acre pub
• Dinners for Two donated by Chex Nouz and Ouisie’s Table

Auction item purchases totaled more than $16,000. Cash donations given to 25:40 for the auction totaled more than $11,000. Sandy Rambach and Melanie Lewis organized the event to a tee and Scott Schwandt’s technical support was flawless. Hosts were Cindy Brooks & Jim Winton; Beatriz & Jorge Rodriguez; Larry & Phyllis Wilkins; Madalyn & Walter Cooke; Brad and Susan Raffle; and Jack & Melanie Lewis.

25:40 deeply appreciates everyone who participated, especially businesses and individuals who donated items for the auction, and the hosts and event coordinators!

Photos by Kerry Ryan