Every year, in the month of May, I run my online auction for Diabetes Research. The auction takes a full year to plan and pull off, but it’s a labor of love—for all the people who, like my son, suffer from diabetes.

My very first auction ran in 2005. It started small but we have grown by leaps and bounds every year since. Here are our totals to date:

2005 - $34,982
2006 - $62,705
2007 - $141,700
2008 - $252,300
2009 - $270, 611

I couldn't have done this each year without my generous donors, which include some of the biggest and brightest stars in publishing. In total, we've raised $762,298. During next year's auction, we should break the $1million mark!

Each year, I offer a fabulous prize package to the person who places the most bids over all (even if that person doesn't end up winning a single item.) The 2009 winner received:

• A brand new Hewlett Packard GIANT screen computer. This is the towerless and wireless system with the touch screen. It's amazing! (Retail value of at least $1,300.)
• An autographed advanced reading copy of THE PERFECT COUPLE (8/09 - the 4th book in The Last Stand series)

So once the auction opens again in May, get in early and keep at it. The next winner could be you!

If you have any ideas you think would make the auction bigger and more exciting, please let me know. Thanks to everyone who donated and to all who are shopping.

Here's to making a difference...

Brenda Novak

 

Auction Awards

See the awards for the 5th annual auction. Each year, Brenda works with an amazing number of people. They are all fabulous, but there are always a few standouts who really pitch in and get in the spirit of things. These are those people, the ones who made the biggest impact. They deserve a well-earned round of applause....