The 2025 Jefferson College Foundation Auction will feature some appealing items for people to bid on.
One item is a Gulf Shores vacation. Another is a distillery tour and spirits tasting for up to 20 people.
Funds raised through this year’s auction will go toward the college’s Veterinary Expansion Capital Campaign. The college recently opened a building on its Hillsboro campus dedicated to its veterinary technology program. It cost about $3 million, and the foundation is raising money to help pay for it.
“This is our primary fundraising event for the year,” said Laura Villmer, Jefferson College Foundation development specialist. “All proceeds this year go toward the building.”
The online portion of the annual foundation fundraiser kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday and continues through the next Saturday, March 29, when the live auction takes place at the Field House on the Hillsboro campus. The live auction will be held from 5-9 p.m.
Standard tickets for the live auction event cost $50, while VIP tickets for the event are $65. In addition to having the opportunity to bid on special items at the live auction, the event includes a catered dinner, drinks and performances by the Jefferson College Jazz Band, as well as exclusive raffles and contests.
The VIP tickets include a tour of the new veterinary technology building, along with appetizers, drinks and giveaways an hour prior to the start of the in-person auction, Villmer said.
Items available for bid only to those attending the live auction include beer for a year (two cases per month) from H.W. Herrell Distributing, a six-night stay at a condo at Gulf Shores donated by Kenny Wilson of the foundation and a tasting for up to 20 at Cardinal Sin Distillery in St. Charles.
Those interested in purchasing tickets for the live auction or participating in the online auction should go to bit.ly/JC-Auction-2025, where all of the auction items may be viewed.
“Everything they need to know about the auction is there,” Villmer said.
Those attending the live auction also may continue taking part in the online auction, in which the first batch of bidding closes at 7 p.m. Bidding on the second batch closes at 7:15 p.m.
Villmer said there also are unique items offered in the online auction.
“One thing in the online auction is an afternoon with a beekeeper, John Pashia of J&R Pashia Apiaries in Pevely,” she said. “I’ve also got a really cute, little gardening basket with handmade garden tools. They were forged from metals taken from the (veterinary technology building) project. They’re stamped with the Viking logo and were made by Michael Gibson.”
Some other online auction items include jewelry, a Coach crossbody bag and a handmade wood bowl.
She said raffles prizes will include a side of beef from Pierce Century Farm of Hillsboro, Lululemon items and a grill.
“We’re excited for the live auction event,” Villmer said. “We think it’s going to be a great event.”
She said the foundation hopes to at least match or to top funds raised during last year’s auction.
“We raised almost $56,000 last year,” she said.
The 2024 auction also benefited the Veterinary Expansion Capital Campaign.
In prior years, auction proceeds have been used to assist students through scholarships, emergency grants, book store grants and other college-related funding requests.
For more information, call 636-481-3105 or send emails to foundation@jeffco.edu.