FOURTEENTH ANNUAL HEART & SOUL
AUCTION BREAKS ALL-TIME RECORD

— by Lois Chazen

Auctions usually leave some elements to chance; but the Heart & Soul Foundation had more certainty than most sales. Stephen Lash, Chairman of Christie’s, North and South America, again volunteered his services as auctioneer. This year, the event was at Christie’s at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on February 19, 2004. The silent and live auctions raised $285,000 for the outreach programs the Foundation funds, $20,000 more than last year and beyond the expectations of the planners. A weak economy and an increase in joblessness did not portend well. However, with this success more money than expected will be available for programs sponsored by All Souls and selected New York City community organizations.

Mr. Lash opened the live auction offering an ordinary, empty glass explaining that two years ago a full glass was the first lot, last year half a glass, and this year the glass alone remained. This, he said, reflected the economy. With wit and savvy, Stephen managed to elicit a winning bid of $1,100. This set the tone for the bidding that followed.

Generosity, despite the economy, was the hallmark of the evening. The audience of approximately 200 gave more than $111,000 directly to outreach programs listed in the journal. Monday Night Hospitality and the Friday Soup Kitchen took the lead, garnering $44,500 in contributions, followed by the Booker T. Washington Learning Center that received $34,700. The Scouting and Aids outreach initiatives benefited from the remainder.

In addition to the four outreach programs, the Live Auction featured three superb hotels in Tuscany and Sardinia as one package; a week at a fully staffed villa in the Dominican Republic; an African Safari and country house; four nights at the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach and a week in Santiago, Chile and at Machu Picchu.

Among the lots offered in the Silent Auction were: a landscape design for formal gardens or for a terrace, including schematic drawings and elevations; tickets to the Big Apple Circus; two nights in posh hotels—the Pierre in New York City, the Charlotte Inn at Martha’s Vineyard, and The Excelsior Hotel in Florence, Italy. Restaurant offerings ranged from the Palm Court at the Plaza to the Tribeca Grill. Personal services included a personal organizer, various spa treatments, and a nutrition consultant. Antique items included a flapper dress and antique jewelry.

Bidders peruse Silent Auction Boards.

Anne Bradley, the 2004 Auction Co-Chair said that, “Christie’s was the ideal place to have the auction. All the facilities of one of the world’s most prominent auction houses made the display of objects and offerings so much easier, as was processing the sale results. The staff at Christie’s was remarkably helpful and we are extremely grateful.”

Ms. Bradley’s co-chair this year was Deborah Jackson, who chaired the event in 2003 held at the Waldorf Astoria. “Having the Heart & Soul Auction at Christie’s makes everything so much easier and gives us access to a broader circle of friends from which to draw. We are called upon to give to a number of needs at church, and having this marvelous place, others outside the inner circle can help us realize the funds we need for our community outreach programs. This year I intend to be a very active member of the Grants Committee. They review applications and counsel and monitor the grantees,” she said.

Bill Bechman, Chairman of the Heart & Soul Foundation, said that he was delighted to announce that Christie’s will be the auction venue again next year. “The elegant, professional setting lent itself to philanthropic giving. In fact, 25% of the attendees were not associated with All Souls. This was due to the efforts of our Benefit Committee, who worked hard to interest and invite friends outside the All Souls community. One man from California, who happened to walk into Christies, bought a ticket. He was so sympathetic to our purposes that he made significant contributions to our outreach programs.”

The Heart & Soul Foundation has specific guidelines for the community organizations in New York City eligible to apply. Members of the Grants Committee, chaired by Warren Yeh, remain on the committee year after year. They seek established organizations in which a small amount of money will make a big difference. Long-term relationships and active participation are maintained. Among the organizations funded are: the Coalition Against Hunger, Inwood House and the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Health Advocates for Older People, Youth Services Opportunity Program, and Interfaith Neighbors.

Bill reported that next year’s co-chairs will for the first time both be men, long-time specialists in financial services. Deborah’s husband, Al Jackson, agreed to co-chair the event if his professional colleague and fellow member of All Souls, Alan Jones shared the chairmanship. “Al has always been so supportive, and so enthusiastic about the auction that he volunteered to try his hand,” she said.

Anne, Deborah and Bill each remarked in separate conversations that they would like to have more luxury items donated, such as fine jewelry, art, furs, antiques, decorator and designer objects and services, as well as beauty and health services. Restaurants and theater, sporting and cultural events, and exciting and unusual trips both abroad and in this country are always popular. Next year, they expect to handle a greater quantity of fine items in a wide range of prices so that more church members, their guests and a larger circle of friends may enjoy the event and come away with something of interest to them.

The Auction Committee works throughout the year and would like to recruit more volunteers. The Auction Coordinator, Alli Schaffer, has donation forms and material about the Foundation available. Corporate and foundation funding leads would be welcome. Alli may be reached at (212)-821-9540 or visit the website: www.heartandsoulauction.org.

Outreach +
In-Reach
= Connecting

All Souls
Peace
Task Force

14th Annual
Heart & Soul
Auction

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