Community members came together as one team with the common goal of supporting Barton Community College at the Barton Foundation’s 34th annual Big Benefit Auction on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Knights of Columbus hall in Great Bend.
Dubbed “Pigskin Pandemonium,” more than 300 attendees, many of them sporting their favorite team’s jersey, bid on items to raise $46,000 for scholarships and program enhancements at the college, which exceeded the Foundation’s goal of $40,000.
The Old Bill Honorarium, a separate scholarship fund built from donations raised more than $11,000 from the crowd.
This year the auction was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall after being held at the Highland Convention Center for many years. Coleen Cape, Coordinator of Fund Raising and Special Events with the Barton Foundation, said the new venue worked out well.
“It was a wonderful event,”  she said.  “The Knights were so easy to work with, and they were having a good time, and so was everyone else.  It was a really great atmosphere.”
Cape added that the community once again rallied around the Foundation’s cause.
“Even with the economy and unemployment being what they are, we are always really proud that the community seems to step up and realize the need and value of what we do out here for our students,” she said.  “They stepped forward and helped us have a another successful event, and we look forward to next year.”
Barton’s Director of Institutional Advancement Darnell Holopirek was also happy with the outcome of the auction.
“We really feel like our auction went well this year, and that is so exciting because we work months to get this done, and we want to convey our appreciation to our community volunteers, the board of directors, all the donors and of course everybody that attended.”