published by: brack rayles
Mar 9, 2010

Going Once, Going Twice, Gone will be the paper bid sheets found at silent auctions in this area, with a new era of technology replacing them at the upcoming Hospital Foundation gala. The “Moonlight in the Garden” event on Friday, April 9 will be the first-ever in which a Decatur County organization uses the BidPal auction system. It promises to add an element of fun and intrigue to the black tie optional fundraiser. Most importantly, area businesses and organizations can still participate and promote their offerings though the units.

According to Hospital Foundation Director, David Fry, the BidPal system is basically a wireless network set-up within the event facility that uses iPhone type units which attendees carry during the evening. These devices are where bids are entered and purchases tracked. The unit not only has the auction catalogue but also the capabilities of letting the bidder know when they’ve been outbid. For item donors, the business or organization name appears on the unit offering additional promotion. Fry added that special sponsorships are available that allow for the business logo to appear periodically throughout the evening!

“The BidPal Network is based in Indianapolis and their innovative system was recently featured in an article in the Indianapolis Business Journal.” Fry said. “BidPal has served a number of fundraisers in that area as well as Chicago, New York and others and came highly recommended.”

So why use BidPal? “In a normal silent auction, participants place their auction bids on paper sheets, walk away and forget to return to see if they’ve been outbid or just don’t want to take time from socializing to do so. With BidPal, attendees can stay connected to auction activity throughout the evening no matter where they might be in the facility,” Fry said. “The BidPal experience shows that this connection to the auction results in a better return for the organization and a bit more excitement for those attending. We think those attending will have fun with it.”

Fry noted that the Hospital Foundation is still seeking donations to the gala event, particularly those with a focus on the outdoors or gardening in general. Donations support the work of the Foundation and the Hospital and as such are tax deductible as allowed by law. Individuals or businesses with questions about the auction or event are encouraged to contact the Hospital Foundation office at 663-1220 or visit the gala website at http://www.dcmh.net/gala.

published by: brack rayles
Mar 12, 2010

The Hospital Foundation is almost up to 100 items for this year's silent auction. Here's a preview of some of those items. Check back often, as this list will be updated periodically until the event on April 9th.