Silent Auction a Success!

“We had a complete blast.” That’s what Programs Director Alison Marchione had to say about her first experience planning a Silent Auction for UVLT. “I had never planned one of these before – most of the credit should go to Brie, she really put a lot of work into this.”

Photo courtesy of Calvin Jones Photography

Brie Swenson, UVLT’s new Community Outreach Coordinator, spent most of January working to connect with local businesses and win their support for the auction. “It was really inspiring to find out how many Upper Valley businesses and residents wanted to be involved.” Swenson said.

The Upper Valley Land Trust hadn’t held a silent auction for several years when this idea came up. “We’ve really been trying to find ways to energize our relations with the business community and have fun with supporters, and on top of that to raise money.” Said Marchione, “This idea seemed like such a good fit. Holding it during First Friday seemed even better.”

Photo courtesy of Calvin Jones Photography

First Friday is White River Junction, VT’s monthly festival and family-friendly celebration of art, music, local food, performance and community. On Friday, February 1^st, The Village at White River Junction, a new assisted living facility in downtown White River, opened its beautiful space to UVLT for the benefit auction. The donation of venue was a way for The Village to open its own doors and engage with the community. UVLT staff and board gathered with supporters of UVLT and folks out on the town for First Friday to peruse gift baskets and items donated by 40+ businesses and individuals from around the Upper  Valley and beyond.

Photo courtesy of Calvin Jones Photography

UVLT staff spent a lot of time pairing donated items to create baskets that were fun and made sense together. We had huge support for the business community to help make this fundraiser great and couldn’t have done it without their generosity and spirit! We are especially thankful to The Village for helping us with this event and making our First Friday presence possible!

The silent auction isn’t the only way that UVLT has been connecting and engaging with area businesses. Last fall we began our Corporate Volunteer Program, a program designed to engage area businesses and their employees in local volunteerism. The program aims to create curated volunteer days for area businesses that provide paid volunteer time as part of their benefit package.

UVLT raised just over $3,000 dollars from the auction and hopes to make it at least semi-annual in the future.

Photo courtesy of Calvin Jones Photography

Thank You to our business contributors!