MOLINE, ILLINOIS (January 19, 2021) — WQPT, Quad Cities PBS, is revisiting their original fundraiser, “The Auction is at Your House.” The new event is an on-air, on-line auction airing on WQPT January 28 and 29, 8-10PM, while the on-line part of the auction is live now at wqpt.org/auction.
“Typically, at this time of year, we would be holding our gala Champagne on the Rocks, but due to COVID-19, we had to think out of the box for our auction items, and we took a look at our history and decided to bring back ‘The Auction is at Your House,’” said interim General Manager Dawn Schmitt.
Items can be viewed before the on-air portion of the auction by visiting wqpt.org/auction. There people can sign up to bid by clicking on an item and a link will pop up. It’s very easy. Rather than calling in and talking to a volunteer, people will bid using their phone so bidders can watch and bid in real time.
“When I was an intern with WQPT many years ago, I worked on the auction, doing everything from running cameras to talent handling,” said Lora Adams WQPT Director of Local Content. “It’s very exciting to once again work with Spike O’Dell who was talent back in the late 80’s and who now has provided us with two beautiful watercolors that we will auction off.” Other items include everything from a half a hog to a vacation stay at Grand Geneva Resort. From fine jewelry to stuffed animals.
Another element of the auction is the inclusion of artwork from area artists like Steve Sinner, Patricia Bereskin, and Jason Platt.
Sponsors for the auction include the Premiere Sponsor: Quad Cities Community Foundation — Bob and Blenda Ontiveros Fund.
Along with Flooring America, JTM Concepts, Legat Architects. Modern Woodmen of America, and Dr. John Fredrick and Eye Surgeons Associates.
WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University.
