An online fall auction to kick off autumn fundraising for the Prince William Sound Science Center, which ran from Oct. 21-24, offered something for everyone — from a pair of Alaska Airlines tickets to food, clothing, jewelry and art.
Bidding closed at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24, with winning bids to be posted online, said Signe Baumann, development and communications manager at PWSSC.
The auction began five years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when holding any event with a lot of people was considered a health risk because of the virus. PWSSC staff decided to have an online fundraiser event that mostly Alaskans, but also folks from Hawai’i, the West Coast and other Lower 48 residents were happy to participate in.
“It was fun too,” said Baumann. With bids posted online with the name of the bidder, people knew who they were bidding against, she said.
Top adventure items in this year’s auction include two round-trip tickets anywhere Alaska Airlines flies, donated every year by the airline. As of late on the evening of Oct. 22, the bid was already up to $950 to travel coach class to any of their 100-plus destinations.
A four-hour Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise for two, donated by Major Marine Tours and valued at $278, had a top bid of $85. A Kenai River scenic float trip for two, donated by Alaska Wildland Adventures with a market value of $144, was still awaiting a starting bid of $50.
Seven people were bidding on a handsome ceramic bowl decorated to look like an urchin, created by artisan PWSSC Education Specialist Kate Trudeau. Bids continued to rise in $5 segments.
Bidding on a trio of cordial syrups from Out The Road Botanicals — nagoonberry, young stinging nettle and elderflower — also have bidders continuing to raise the ante in $5 amounts.
“Green Russula,” an original watercolor painting by Emily Rubio with a market value of $315, depicts a local mushroom species found around town. Bidding starting at $100 had not yet begun on the painting.
In addition, three folks were bidding on an Alaska Seafood and Sausage gift package, valued at $197, and bidding was up to $105.
Auction participants also were honed in on three 12-ounce jars of nagoonberry, red current and raspberry jams from berries picked and processed by Scott Pegau, a research scientist and program manager at PWSSC. Bids on the jam, with a market value of $45, were up to $25.
Baumann said the donors and other supporters of the auction come together each year to make the fundraiser a success.
“I’m always so overwhelmed with gratitude and awe,” she said. “We are lucky to have the supporters and donors that we do have. That’s what keeps me doing it every year. I am inspired by people’s generosity and creativity.”
This year’s event sponsors include Solstice Alaska Consulting, Cascadia Cross Border Law Group, CoBank, ExxonMobil Alaska, The Meacham Foundation, Laura and Mike Meadors, Nancy Pease and Dan Hull, The Telesz Family, Tri-State Generation, and Transmission Association.
