2006 Autumn Candlelight Dinner & Bucks For PACE Auction

Act One Guild's 2006 Autumn Candlelight Dinner & Bucks For PACE Auction Brings in more than $525,000

BELLEVUE, Wash. (Oct. 24, 2006) – Nearly 400 PACE supporters packed The Westin Bellevue on Oct. 21, 2006 for the long awaited Autumn Candlelight Dinner & Bucks For PACE Auction sponsored by the Act One Guild, a volunteer fundraising arm of the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE). The enthusiastic audience generously bid on the magnificent one-of-a-kind pieces of art at the third annual black-tie gala, raising over $525,000 for the 2,000-seat performing arts center opening in Bellevue in 2009.

"We are delighted to have surpassed the $500,000 goal set back when we first began planning the Bucks For PACE project," says Suzanne Hutchinson, director of guilds and guild special events for PACE. "The Guild members have all grown very attached to the Bucks, so it was bittersweet for us to say good-bye to these absolutely beautiful Bucks. However, it warmed our hearts to see the lively bidding that sent them off to new homes."

Hutchinson was referring to the live auction, which led to the sale of 42 of the Bucks (26 life-sized and 16 tabletop Bucks). The remaining tabletop Bucks were sold during the silent auction held earlier that evening. Bringing in the largest amount was Mega-Buck, a life-size buck, created by Medina artist, Sarah Ingersoll, which sold for $20,750. The highest price fetched for a tabletop Buck, $5,400, was Olympic Silver, created by 1984 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist, Rosalynn Sumners. Both Sarah and Rosalynn attended the event. The Fund-A-Need bidding raised $85,000 for a Steinway Concert Grand, Model D for the Center. Co-Chairs for the Autumn Candlelight Dinner Bucks For PACE Auction were Molly Sears and Judie O'Brien.

"This has been a complex project for Act One Guild to undertake," says Linda Bonomi, director of development and the $100 Million Capital and Endowment Campaign for PACE. "Last Saturday was the culmination of a tremendous effort by the 40 women who make up the Guild. We are very proud of our affiliation with them and their commitment and contributions to raising both funds and visibility for PACE."