Silent partners: Auctions garner $3,000
By JASMIN PERSCH Special to the Daily Press
MONTANA AVENUE — Area merchants have gotten swept up in the charitable spirit following Hurricane Katrina, with businesses here raising $10,000 through fundraising efforts aimed at helping the victims of the ravaged Gulf region.
Money raised through a mass drawing and series of silent auctions will go to the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, according to Jane Walker, chairwoman of the Montana Merchants Association.
More than 70 businesses, the majority of which are Montana Avenue stores, took part, donating gifts and certificates valued at $100 or more apiece. Tickets sold along Montana Avenue and in stores netted approximately $7,000.
Santa Monica Police Sgt. Rudy Camarena on Wednesday hand-picked the winning tickets. The 70 winners of the drawing were eligible to claim various prizes ranging from a $1,500 tuxedo worn by Vairon Perez to a seat at the Emmy Awards to a one-night stay in a room with a view at Hotel Oceana.
Silent auctions staged at about 35 different Montana Avenue stores on Sept. 8 garnered an additional $3,000.
Shortly before Hurricane Katrina hit, the association had decided to make a fundrais-er one of its annual events, but postponed the plan one year due to a lack of time to organize, Walker said. Then the hurricane struck, prompting the association to put together the fundraiser at the last minute.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 13, 2005. Read the original PDF.