Festival of Colors party auction draws early bid 

by Rachel Coleman

 LIBERAL, Kan. —   Festival of Colors, the SCCC Foundation’s annual party auction, is right around the corner: it happens at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Seward County Activity Center. And while the bidding can’t begin until the doors open, at least one item has already become the object of desire. 

“We received an original piece of artwork by Doc Armstrong, a well-known and much-loved local medical provider and artist,” said SCCC Associate Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement Sarah Thompson. “Doc is such a gifted artist and has donated original works before. This one came with an anonymous bid of $5,000 already recorded.”

Thompson said the watercolor will appear in the live auction portion of the evening, along with an array of other high-value, high-interest items.

“We’ve got a hunting trip in Argentina for three people, a Blackstone range and grill, a year of dinner and movie dates, quilts … a little bit of everything,” she said. “This is the first year for me to manage the auction and I’m impressed by the quality of the items and the generosity of the donors.”

Thompson and her team of volunteers, Foundation members, and SCCC employees have planned an evening with a few new features. For the first time, the meal, available for purchase on site for $5, will be catered by El Ranchito restaurant, with desserts provided by Great Western Dining. Thompson said the food fits right in with the auction theme, which nods to Hispanic culture and its colorful, vibrant flavors.

Admission wristbands to the auction are on sale now for $20 and must be purchased in advance. Sold only to guests 21 years and older, the wristband ensures admission, access to the live and silent auctions, beer, wine, and soft drinks; meals may be purchased on site. Babysitting is available for $5 per child (one years old and up), with pizza included.

Silent auction tables offer an array of choices, from spa packages to themed bundles for children, K-State and KU fans, serious cooks and amateur home improvement projects. It’s perfect for holiday gift-giving, Thompson pointed out.

“I have had people confess they use our auction as the foundation for their own Christmas shopping, which is kind of neat,” she said.

The auction is also the foundation of student support — literally.

“This event puts the spotlight on how the SCCC Foundation steadily serves to help students directly and support the college in various ways,” said SCCC Chief Development Officer Kyle Woodrow. “Of course, we think of scholarships, but there are also stand-along projects the Foundation has funded and we look to do more of that in the future.”

To purchase your ticket, call the Foundation office, 624-417-1135, email [email protected], or buy in person at the Foundation office or partner sites in Liberal.