Club’s sports auction to feature something for everyone

 Content Originally Published by the Sidney Herald on Sunday February 27, 2011.

Outstanding food, auction items for a variety of tastes and a way of helping a valuable program are all available at this year’s Boys and Girls Club of Richland County Sports Memorabilia Dinner and Auction.



Last year, the event raised nearly $20,000 for the Boys and Girls Club’s general expenses. Mike Mohl, organizer of the March 19 program, said with the club facing financial challenges, he hopes to at least match that amount this time around.



“The money goes to the general fund to help keep the facility’s doors open,” Mohl said. “If nothing else, it’s a good fundraiser and a fun event.” Tickets are $25 or two for $45. Tickets are available from any of the club’s board members or at the club. If you buy your tickets early, your name is put in a raffle for a Playstation system, a $170 value. The dinner auction has been moved to the Richland County Fair’s Event Center this year.



“There’s a lot more space,” Mohl said. “It’s a benefit to have more room for this event.”



At 5 p.m., participants will enjoy a meal catered by the Ranger Lounge that includes chicken fried steak, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and a tossed salad.



This year’s program will include the musical talents of Fairview High School senior Alyson Cayko and Laura Castro. “We told each of them to perform for 12-15 minutes. It’s going to add to the night,” Mohl said.



The amount of auction items keeps growing and growing. The latest additions include a recycling chair for Green Bay Packer fans donated by Finnicum’s Furniture and western chinks made by Wade McMillen.



“We have all kinds of great items for everybody, not just sports stuff,” Mohl said.



He explains up for auction would be a “completed custom-built shed.” Sidney Red-E-Mix donated the cement, Great Plains donated the lumber and RTK Construction will donate the labor. “It’s a $1,000-plus item,” Mohl said.



Other “non sports” auction items include two half beefs, a mountain bike, a necklace and quilts.



Among the top sports items are two tickets for the fall NASCAR weekend at the Talladega SuperSpeedway that includes $1,000 for travel, tickets for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev., an autographed baseball by Nolan Ryan, an autographed jersey by NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by Ndamukong Suh, an autographed Griz shirt by NFL player Marc Mariani and an autographed football by Hall of Famer Floyd Little. There will also be autographed items by baseball legends Rod Carew, Dale Murphy and George Brett.



Last year’s attendance was about 140. “We would like to see 200 people there to support the club,” Mohl said.