Possible Dreams Auction to be held on the Vineyard
by Meagan A. Dion
The Vineyard has a funny way of taking care of one another. There is a certain sense of solidarity among the year round and summer residents in being able to call the island home. We know each other’s names, we shop at each other’s stores, and eat at each other’s restaurants. When the tourists come, we trudge on through the summer through exhausting hours so we can bury our acorns for the winter together. When we need help, there is always a friendly face eager to take the weight off our shoulders. This attitude of graciousness is one that Martha’s Vineyard Community Services has adopted as a core value.
In 1961, a group of Vineyarders with a deep concern for the mental health and stability of Island families founded MVCS. The organization is a private, non-profit agency aimed to enhance the lives of those it serves by meeting the needs of individuals and families through a partnership of programs that provide accessible education, health, and human services of the highest quality. With programs like CONNECT to end violence, disability services, and early childhood centers, MVCS has become a staple for providing for the needs of nearly 6,000 island residents.
Taking on such a nurturing role in the community comes at a cost though. With 22% of the total budget for MVCS relying on private donations, the community’s monetary support helps MVCS thrive. Cue the Possible Dreams Auction. The 35-year-old island benefit auction began in 1978 by summer resident Doug Garron who sold off one-of-a-kind items, called Dreams. People bid on articles otherwise unavailable for sale – an eclectic array of outings with notable figures – as well as home spun Vineyard items. The next year, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Art Buchwald took over the podium at the auction and was quickly named the “heart, soul, and funnybone of the Auction” by co-chair Amy Eisenlohr.
Original items auctioned off at the event included a sail with Walter Cronkite that sold for $225; 21 years later, the same Dream sold for $20,000. In 1993, singer Carly Simon raised $162,000 for private performances in bidders’ homes. Other successful bidders have visited movie sets, performed on TV shows, sculpted and painted with Island artists, and posed for portraits by expert photographers.
The event has raised more than $9 million dollars since its inception and this year MVCS hopes to further increase this number to give island residents the services they need. Boston-based comedian Jimmy Tingle will take the stage in honor of the late Art Buchwald and auction off an array of unique experiences at the Winnetu Resort in Edgartown on July 28th. Notable items for bid include Sushi with Belushi, an evening of sushi, sake, and satire with comedian Jim Belushi, a cruise on a 50-foot schooner named Charlotte with Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, and a VIP experience to meet Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Sherri Shephard on a behind the scenes tour of The View.
While this event will be an evening filled with camaraderie and laughter, the late Art Buchwald stressed the importance of the event. “Let’s not forget why we’re here,” he explained. “Let me remind you this is not a game. We’re raising money for a lot of people who really need it. I don’t want that to get away from us.”
Tickets to the event are $25 dollars and can be purchased through the MVCS website at www.mvcommunityservices. com.
