Rotary Auction raises nearly $100,000 after 2 nights

The auction resumes at 7 p.m. Wednesday. It runs nightly through Saturday at the Memorial Building downtown.

After two nights, the Hopkinsville Rotary Auction had earned nearly $100,000, auction chairman Cody Noffsinger reported.

The auctioneers increased their pace, selling 20 more items on Tuesday compared to Monday’s opening night effort, and doubled the main auction tally with $13,914.

Combined with $12,685 in Tuesday donations to the Hour and Goat clubs, and with $3,997 in diner sales, the second-night fundraising effort stood at $30,596. That pushed the overall fund to $96,707 after two nights.

On Wednesday, local schools will begin to report their efforts to raise money. 

In a Facebook post, Noffsinger said school system Superintendent Chris Bentzel set a goal of $20,000 from local schools. If they hit the mark, Bentzel will take a pie in the face from Dr. Alissa Young, president of Hopkinsville College president.

Noffsinger predicted the schools would not disappoint Rotarians.

“Does Bentzel want chocolate or strawberry? That’s the only question we have to answer,” he said. 

The auction, now in its 71st year, raises money for college scholarships. While the main auction generates energy and interest during the week, most of money that Rotarians raise will come from contributions to the Hour Club. Donors give in increments of $179, which is the cost of one credit hour of tuition at the community college.

Auction Info:

Where: Memorial Building, 1202 S. Virginia St.
When: 7-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. until the last item is sold Saturday.
Watch and Listen: On Hopkinsville Rotary’s website, on WHOP Radio 98.7 FM, or on Spectrum channel 376
Bid: Call 270-885-7500
Eat at the Diner: Lunch hours are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. through Friday; dinner is 5 to 8 p.m. through Saturday
Donate: Call 270-885-5919 to contribute to the Hour Club 

This week’s tally:

Monday: $66,111
Tuesday: $30,596
Total as of Tuesday: $96,707

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.