Over $42k!!! First off, you forgot to thank YOURSELF for taking the time and energy to once again organize and run this auction, ESPECIALLY while prepping for and then recovering from, major knee surgery! I will echo too what Chip said - thanks to all those who helped organize and run the auction, those who bid, and those who simply gave money to the cause without actually receiving anything from the auction. And I love the story about the one person winning the triple play ball and then donating it back to be awarded to the second place bidder - that's some serious "ut prosim"! Chip, remind us all what the tallies were for each year you have done the auction. I seem to recall that every year the amount raised has grown. It really is amazing what you have done for this program!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Is $45,000 next year realistic or do we aim high for $50,000?

but I seem to recall that it's been almost EXPONENTIAL growth each year. So forget $45k or $50k for next year - I say $100k!!! Pressure is on Chip!! Hah!

We started doing the annual auction during the COVID challenges - the team had actually been shut down for a couple of weeks, when we came up with the idea. I told Coach Pete at the time that I wasn't sure how much we would raise, but that even if it was just $1,000, it was a $1,000 that they didn't have. He agreed and has been really supportive during the entire process and Associate AD Chris Helms even donated three very nice items from his personal collection this year which I greatly appreciate. Softball Director Bill Olds has been a HUGE help throughout the years as he helps me procure some of the hard to get items and gets the team to sign them when needed. I do feel at times that there are unnecessary roadblocks that have appeared, but we have persevered and thanks to many of you, the auction total has grown every year. I have to give major shout out to Bonnie as my knee surgery occurred on the very day that the auction closed. My lifetime friend Tim with Mountain City Auction did all the magic with getting the auction finalized and invoices sent out, but Bonnie did all the sorting of the items, packing them up, and getting them ready for pickup or shipping, She is truly Wonder Woman and is the unsung hero of this process. But the real heroes are you folks who donate, bid, and help spread the word. THANK YOU!!!!!!! As requested, here's the history.

Thank you for all the work you do to help our Hokie ladies! You are the BEST!

Funny to think that when you first got started, you were thinking that you'd be happy with $1k and now look at the $$$ you are raising!! And see, you almost DOUBLED the amount from last year to this year so we all expect close to $100k next year!!! And yes, a BIG thanks to Bonnie and your friend Tim for all of the "behind the scenes" help in making the auction such a roaring success!!

started the fund raising auction and other events.