UMaine Art Auction March 21 to Aid Student Service Projects
Contact: Audra Grady, 581-4194; George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — The second annual public Alternative Spring Break Art Auction is scheduled March 21 at Buchanan Alumni House to raise funds for an endowment to help with expenses for student service trips around the United States and internationally.
More than 80 students — who raise the majority of their travel and lodging expenses themselves — will spend spring break this year, Feb. 27-March 13, volunteering at humanitarian aid sites in Texas, Utah, Florida, Georgia, West Virginia, and Peru in May.
“With a stable financial situation, students can spend less time stressing about fundraising and more time learning about social issues and responsibility, their place in society, and cultural and diversity issues around our nation and the world,” says Audra Grady, assistant director for Student Engagement and The Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism.
The UMaine Black Bear Chapter of the national Break Away organization contributes between 40-60 hours of service each over the year, logging 3,200-4,800 hours annually during spring break or service weekends.
The silent auction, created last year by students to assist with fundraising for ASB travel expenses, begins at 6 p.m. and concludes when all pieces have been auctioned. The event will be catered by the Muddy Rudder restaurant in Brewer, with music by Brian Cattell. The auction, which is free and open to the public, raised more than $8,000 last year. The goal is to create an endowment of $100,000-$200,000 with an investment dividend of at least $5,000 per year to support student service trips. The University of Maine Foundation manages the endowment.
At least 36 pieces of fine art by artists from Maine to California will be on the block, Grady says. A silent auction is planned prior to the main auction for smaller items, with final bids being placed during the short break in between.
All items will be bid, paid and delivered to purchasers at the event. Individual pieces generally sell for $25-$1,000. Space can be reserved for a suggested donation of $25 per person, $45 per couple, and can be obtained by contacting Grady at 581-4194.
The UMaine ASB chapter is in its twelfth year providing service to local, national and international communities. The mission of the local chapter is to enhance understanding of diversity, in addition to providing concrete help for human needs or environmental causes through group service projects. The mission statement also includes “advocating life-long social action to heighten social awareness by promoting service on the local, regional, national and international levels,” according to the Bodwell Center.
ASB at UMaine is supported by the Bodwell Center, the Division of Student Affairs and the University of Maine.