The Symphony of the Kootenays has launched an intriguing new fundraising venture ahead of its Dec. 6 concert.
The Symphony’s online silent auction is now up and running on the eFlea website, featuring four “getaway” package prizes open for bidding.
Lisa Barnes, the Symphony’s auction web administrator. said the prize package feature get-away items, “a chance to get out and enjoy culture and life” in the region.
“We were originally looking at doing an event (for a fundraiser),” Barnes said. “We tossed around different ideas to bring the community together.” Barnes said the online silent auction was decided upon, and businesses have come through with some great donations.
The “Symphony Getaway” includes a round trip for two to Kelowna, courtesy of Pacific Coastal Airlines, two tickets to a performance of the Okanagan Symphony, and one night’s accommodation at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna (valued at $1,600).
The “Wine Harvest Getaway” features an Okanagan Wine package — two nights accommodation at the Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos, which includes a wine tour, lunch at the winery and $100 cash for gas (valued at $1,060).
A nature getaway closer to home is up for the bidding — two nights at the Bull River Guest Ranch, along with a “grocery basket,” with gift certificates to Rick’s Fine Meats, Safeway and Save-On (valued at $500).
The Symphony of the Kootenays is holding a remarkable concert on July 4 — “Symphony on the Mountain” at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. The package contains two nights accommodation at Trickle Creek Resort, two tickets to the concert (including shuttle service from the hotel and chair lift ride up to the concert) and dinner at the Pedal and Tap in Kimberley (valued at $650).
The auction is being run with the aid of eFlea, a company that specialized in helping not-for-profit organizations with online silent auctions. All the Symphony auction details are are the website.
To bid, one needs to sign in on the website. You don’t need to provide any financial information, but when someone has submitted a bid higher than your’s eflea.ca will send you an email or text, depending on your preference, alerting you to the bid and asking if you want to bid again.
As of this writing, bids were amounting to 30 per cent of the value of the packages.
The auction runs until Dec. 7, at 12 noon. Bids can be submitted right up to that moment.
As for the Symphony’s upcoming Dec. 6 concert at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook, it bodes to be something special. Featured is Celtic harpist, singer and songwriter Keri Lynn Zwicker, who has had her music arranged specifically for the Symphony of the Kootenays. The concert is billed as “A Celtic Christmas: A Winter’s Ramble with Keri Zwicker.” Tickets are on sale at the Key City Theatre or through Symphony board members.