Anthrocon 2008 Charity Auction Followup

Hi, and welcome to the 2008 edition of the Anthrocon Charity Auction Followup!

First, the bad news: The Charity Auction had the lowest return this year since 1999, we're sorry. There were issues, we know - some we could've fixed, others out of our hands. We are working to change for 2009. We have plans - BIG plans - that should turn things around on many levels. Stay tuned!

And now the good news: We raised a total of $3,982 for Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue, our charity this year! They also benefited from donations at their Dealers' Room table to the tune of $1,102! Kage & 2's charity benefit performance raised $3,040! Dr. Gerbasi's survey team donated $130! Anthrocon provided a matching (sorta) donation of $5,000!

All told, the convention total contributed to Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue was $13,254. This is the LARGEST convention-wide contribution total that Anthrocon has EVER recorded! It is the largest donation that Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue has ever received from a single event!

If you contributed to helping PPR this year, either by donating or buying from the auction, donating at their table, buying a ticket to the comedy show, or even just taking the Furry Survey, you have the thanks of Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue and Anthrocon for making this the biggest year ever. (If you are a dealer who contributed a portion of your sales to PPR - not via the bucket at their table - let us know and we can adjust our figures upwards even higher!)

I'd like to give sincere thanks to my staff members who assisted me throughout the days the Charity items were displayed and during the Auction itself. These indispensable people who I rely on year after year to support the event are Jason "creature" Murdock, Mike "Mrianti" Pierce, Steven "Tora" Sears, Shaun "Stahi" Daugherty, and Matt "Danruk" Adey. Extra special thanks to the Dorsai who auctioneered the full stretch: John "Bear" Hall, Dave Stein, and Dr. Robert Passovoy.

Also, a big note of gratitude to Jennifer Miller for the wonderful art that graced the promo beanie parrots that each donor received.

Finally, in no particular order (my cards got mixed up), here's a tally of all the items (97 lots) sold during the Auction by Donor, Item (brief description), and Sale Price:

Kristy Lee - Bib/kerchief necklace - $45
Bloodhound - Tiny clay dragon - $15
Theyain - 145 notes - $16
Killjoy - Three M&M's "Wild Adventures" banks - $1
Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue - Framed Steelers flyer signed by Dwight White - $5
Rona Dolvi - Artwork [2], acrylic on canvas - $10
Po Shan Cheah - 3' Meeko raccoon plush - $10
T. Ilswaith - "Got Kitsune" poster - $5
Makoto - Bugs Bunny fountain - $5
Richard de Wylfin - "Funny Animal Art of Frank Frazetta" - $15
Bloodhound - Hello Kitty journal/pillow - $5
Killjoy - "Thunder Herd" plush horse set - $30
Friends of NIMHMuck - Battle Ball Game - $5
Yunicoon - Wolf & Her Pups statue - $40
Smrgol - Anthrocon 2008 Furry Forever hat #11 - $35
Lilpup - AC '03 conbook and Guy Gilchrist signed t-shirt - $19
Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue - Baseball signed by Brian Giles - $15
Sym - FAO Schwartz giant polar bear plush - $20
Janethorse - Assorted plush - $15
Mwuricon D. Malamute - Fenton ceramic collectible cat, signed - $16
Triggur - Voidstar anubis costume - $125
Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue - "Search Critter" fursuit vest - $40
Killjoy - Starfox Adventures ad standee (2002) - $55
Mejeep - Strange Change Machine, Bigfoot Wreck & Roll Arena - $5
BunnyBox - Mystery Machine lunch box, gummy candy, wireless headphones - $15
Liv Hathaway - Acrylic snow leopard - $65
Panja - Two large t-shirts by Florida Wind - $20
Tyrrlin - Two MREs - $40
Victoria "slashersivi" Chang - Artwork: "Rainforest Rendezvous" - $25
Joe Strike - "Sugar & Babe" fan - $5
Friends of NIMHMuck - Mutant Chronicles Warzone, Chronopia (signed) - $25
Triggur - Opening Ceremonies "Jumanji" video props & comics - $70
Kristy Lee - Parrot necklace & earrings set - $20
David Losar - Blue Planet RPG books - $40
Sara Palmer, Michelle Light, Heather Bruton, Diana Harlan Stein, Terrie Smith, Dark Natasha, Marci McAdams - Artwork: "Birthday Cake" - $300
Lanakila - 36 cans of Canadian Coke - $90
Bloodhound - Artwork: "Play With Me!" - $45
John (Joatmon) Lindgren - Rocky & Bullwinkle plush beanie set - $50
Jill0r & Artspots.com - Artwork: "Mariners" (cover to MFF's conbook) - $20
Killjoy - 18pc big-eyes/big-head plush set - $20
Yunicoon - Wolf candle statuette - $45
Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue - Cowboys pennant signed by Jerry Jones - $10
Wolfie's Pack Productions - Artwork: "Mirv Griffon" - $25
Soba - Set of Sonic & Sega boards & standees - $105
Mejeep - Copper Coyote cap - $5
Blaits - Artwork: wolf w/ scenery - $15
Maggock - Artwork: "Nandays" - $45
Friends of NIMHMuck - Blood Berets game - $5
Bondofox - Pig statuette collection - $5
Artie - Sonic Adventures 2 "Rouge, the Bat" 2001 JP plush - $215
Anthrocon - 2007 Charity Auction donor gift (mug) - $25
MooglyGuy - Guitar Hero: On Tour DS Bundle signed by entire game team - $200
Shiro - Artwork: "Ways of Making You Squawk" - $20
Tiger Torre Art - Expandable accordion print rack - $10
Killjoy - Tiger item collection - $100
Fenris Lorsrai - Artwork: "Remember Me" - $25
Gregory Giacobe - Confurence souvenir convention books/In-Fur-Nation mailings (1992-2001) - $110
Killjoy - 9.25lb Nestle Crunch bar - $140
Chris "Foxx" Yost - Etched wine bottle from Foxburg Winery - $15
Toolfox - Life-size english sheepdog plush puppet - $60
Jennifer Miller - Painted spix's macaw feather - $80
Mejeep - "Learn to Read the Furry Way", furry cellphone case, Animalympics VHS - $40
Friends of NIMHMuck - Hunter: The Reckoning RPG books - $30
Jill0r & Artspots.com - Artwork: "Fox & Grapes" - $30
Chilly - Coca-Cola shorts & Richmond River Dogs hockey jersey - $5
Cedar, Sarah "Teto" Frost - Deep-o fish plush, sock monster plush - $5
Killjoy - Barrel of monkeys plush, 33pc licensed character plush - $20
Jill0r & Artspots.com - Artwork: "Ghost" - $35
Blaits - Carved wolf head statue - $40
Gregory Giacobe - Anthrocon souvenir convention books (1997-2007) - $50
Blotch - Anthrocon 2008 dance poster - $100
Amaruq - Prismacolor pencil set - $40
T. Ilswaith - Book: "The Heart of a Fox" (signed) - $50
Bondofox - McDonald's furry videogame collection - $5
Dorsai Irregulars - High fursuit tag # for 2008 - $100
Dr Samuel Conway - Dayan of Wachfield tarot deck - $80
Mejeep - Unstuffed plush dragon - $4
Kazzellin - Pendant commission: "Howl Down the Moon" - $35
GP - Horse plush - $5
Mwuricon D. Malamute - Antique cast-iron pig coin bank - $5
Chriss Foxx - Tony the Tiget t-shirt - $6
Sara Palmer, Michelle Light, Heather Bruton, Diana Harlan Stein, Terrie Smith, Dark Natasha, Marci McAdams - Artwork: Seven Sins collaboration - $125
Bloodhound - Elephant bag from India - $5
Pixy Vixy - Furry magnetic decal - $15
Friends of NIMHMuck - Warzone games & minis - $20
Dark Natasha - Artwork: "Cockatiel Griffon" - $50
Chilly - Furry bathroom sign - $24
Mejeep - Three Gund lion plush - $10
Anthrocon - 2008 Charity Auction donor gift (parrot beanie) - $5
Slickpuppy - Signed "Furry Pirates" RPG book - $20
Farore Nightclaw - Bookmark commission - $10
Bloodhound, Amaruq - Lisa Frank assignment book, lighted leash & collar - $15
Wolfie's Pack Productions - Artwork: "Rocket Car" - $15
Blaits - Carved howling wolf statue - $16
Maggock - Artwork: "A Rare Moment of Quiet" - $20
Artspots.com - Artwork: "Lemur Love" - $35
Triggur - Horstachio costume & candy - $150

Charity Auction Total: $3,882

Dealers' Table donations: $1,102

Comedy ticket sales: $3,040

Survey donations: $130

Anthrocon matching (sorta) contribution: $5,000

Convention Total: $13,154

Thanks again for a great year and see you all in 2009!

- Rigel