January 7, 2004
PathFUNDer fun fund-raiser
School auction features art work, three days on potato farm
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
A BMW Z4 for a month, a week at a Montana log home, three days at a local potato farm and a tree that will last a lifetime.
These are just some of the big-ticket items available Saturday evening during the Live Auction portion of PathFUNDer 2003. Held for the first time this year at the Dennos Museum, the glittering event allows family, staff and friends of the Interlochen Pathfinder School to raise a much-needed ten percent of their operating costs.
For the 31st year, the PathFUNDer party is the place to be on Saturday night, where gourmet food from Hattie's and music from a bevy of area musicians will set the tone.
"So many things have changed, we've moved to the Museum and we are excited about working in that space," said Ellen Northway, associate director of development for the Interlochen Pathfinder School. "The Museum is an exquisite facility and it is truly an honor to be able to be there this year."
In addition to their party clothes, attendees come armed with calendars and checkbooks, prepped for a special splurge. Auction items like the farm visit - appropriately dubbed PathFARMer - are quick sellers that usually bring in a good price.
"Dawn Iott, our lower elementary science teacher, and her husband are the owner and operators of the Iott Seed Farm, a potato seed farm," Northway said. "It's a genuine experience and very, very popular item over the past few years, one of those items people plan for in advance."
Faculty, families and students have donated all manner of items large and small for the live and silent auctions, which together featuring hundreds of bidding options. Artwork, services such as babysitting or a magic show, custom murals and even a dinner party for six to eight people are up for grabs. Even doggy scarves get their due, donated by the school's kindergarten teacher Jennifer Abel.
"Many of the items are one-of-a-kind items, not available on a shelf anywhere," noted Northway. "There are unique, hand-crafted and unusual art pieces."
Dozens of area merchants also weigh in with everything from trading cards and gift baskets to jewelry and restaurant gift certificates. The health and beauty category includes everything from yoga classes and teeth bleaching to orthodontic X-rays and eye exams. Pet services are also up for grabs from area vets.
This year all students got involved in PathFUNDer 2003. Each class is auctioning a class picture mounted in a custom frame. This frame includes a ceramic tile made by each child in the class, highlighting their special interests or talents.
"Each class has a unique frame," Northway noted.
The thick catalog of items is a testimonial to the months of hard work by numerous volunteers, who create or solicit, catalogue and price, each and every thing.
"They seem to always keep it interesting and fresh, every year," said Bill Morgan, director of Marketing for Interlochen Arts Academy.
Northway said all the hard work is shared by virtually everyone in the Interlochen Pathfinder community. Each of the nearly 120 families in the school participates in whatever way they can.
"It is truly a community effort to help the school," she said. "This is very important to the vitality of the school and it is also a nice community builder."