Hartwick College Hosts 16th Annual Athletics Benefit Auction

Hartwick College Athletics will host its annual benefit auction from 6:30 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 at the Carriage House Event Center, 790 South Side Drive, in Oneonta. Admission is $40 per person; $70 per couple. Proceeds from the event will benefit the College’s athletics program and enhance the scholar-athlete experience.

Now in its 16th year, the annual event typically raises more than $40,000 for Hartwick College Athletics, bringing together more than 150 alumni, parents, and friends of the College, including scores of local community supporters.

“The Benefit Auction is an event that brings together the Hartwick Community and all the friends and families of the College for the support of our student-athletes,” said Hartwick College Athletic Director John Czarnecki. “I would like to thank all those that have supported the Auction with donations this year, those who will support the department with their purchases, and most importantly the team in College Advancement, which has really made this event a success. It is a great feeling to know that our amazing student-athletes have all the support that they do.”

At Hartwick, 33% of students play on one of 19 Division III varsity sports teams.

A variety of “live” and “silent” items will be available during the auction. The live items are high-value pieces, which will be auctioned by guest auctioneer Donald Turnbull of Morris Auction Gallery. Silent items will be on display throughout the evening.

One does not need to attend to participate; proxy bidding will be available for the live auction. To secure a proxy bidder, contact Leadership Giving Officer Mary Hildebrandt King ’81, P’20 at 607-431-4045 or kingm@hartwick.edu.

Guests who are present can sample food and drinks – provided throughout the evening by leading area beverage distributors – as they consider their bids.

At the benefit auction, baseball fans will have opportunities to gain rare access at some legendary venues. An $800 Boston Red Sox package will be available, which includes four tickets to an upcoming game at Fenway Park, front row seats in the State Street Pavilion, access to the State Street Club, and a tour of the park.

Four seats are also available behind the home dugout for a game at Yankee Stadium; this package also includes access to the MVP Club and VIP parking.

Football fans can win tickets to a New York Giants home game, or two tickets to see Syracuse University battle Clemson in an important Atlantic Coast Conference game on October 14 (a $500 value).

Sports fans can also win tickets to see other regional professional teams including the New York Red Bulls, Rochester Red Wings, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and Binghamton Devils.

Golfers can vie for rounds of golf at Oneonta Country Club, Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown, and the First Tee Syracuse Golf Complex at Butternut Creek, Jamesville, NY. A set of Top Flite junior clubs is also up for grabs.

This year, the auction offers condominium stays of three nights on the beach in South Padre Island, TX, and a week in Naples, FL.

Eastern Travel Oneonta Bus Lines is offering travel and ticket packages to the Bronx Zoo, the Finger Lakes Wine Festival in Watkins Glen, NY, and a performance of “Pretty Woman” on Broadway.

Other live and silent auction items include a pair of Adirondack patio chairs; tickets to a Glimmerglass Festival opera performance; ski lift tickets at Hunter Mountain; a collection of Pittsburgh Pirates and Penguins swag; a sports netting kit; and Horse riding lessons at Hunter’s Reign stables in Otego, NY.

Auction items have been generously donated by local and regional businesses, alumni, and friends of the College.

RSVPs are requested by April 25, and can be made at www.hartwickalumni.org/benefit19.

For more information on the event, to donate an item for the auction, or if you are interested in absentee /proxy bidding, contact Ms. King at 607-431-4045 or kingm@hartwick.edu.