—by Lois Chazen

Proceeds from the Heart & Soul Auction reached an all-time high at Christie’s on February 15, garnering more than $400,000 in total. The live auction conducted by Stephen Lash, chairman of Christie’s, North and South America brought in $262,100. Donations, committee membership, tickets and journal ads added approximately $140,000. These figures represent an increase in receipts of approximately thirty percent beyond last year’s event which had also reached an all-time high. Monday Night Hospitality was the biggest winner among the Live Auction Outreach Programs presented. The program’s goal was $45,000 and once again Jim and Kerianne Flynn contributed with great generosity. This outreach program is one in which the Flynns actively participate. They made a challenge that if the goal were reached—and it was—they would give an equal amount. In the spirited bidding which attended the challenge, an additional $4,000 was raised from the audience. The total proceeds reached $94,000. Other outreach programs funded through the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund met or exceeded budget. The Booker T. Washington Learning Center topped its request for $35,000 by $12,500. Friday Soup Kitchen exceeded its budget of $45,000 by $2,500 and Neighborhood Youth Programs which include the Girl Scouts, New Amsterdam Boys Choir and Navigators topped their budget of $35,000 by $7,500.

Although the auction results far exceeded expectations, the money The Heart & Soul Charitable Fund receives each year is distributed with great care by the Grants Committee. Chaired and supervised by Warren Yeh, committee members make a rigorous evaluation based on four parameters which are scored 0-5 points. In essence, as extracted from Warren Yeh’s “Model for Responsive and Responsible Giving,” these parameters are: 1) To what degree does the organization serve the underprivileged and needy and, “is it tolerant and open-minded in scope?” 2) What is the applicant’s extent of funding need and is its annual budget less than $1.5 million? 3) “Is the program run efficiently, providing the highest level of service given their level of resource?” If the program was reviewed before, what changes have occurred since its last review? 4) Does the program serve the “Upper East neighborhood or more generally New York City?” After this preliminary screening, applicants make a 30-minute presentation to the Grants Committee and if approved, the proposal is presented to the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund’s Board of Directors. If the grant is approved, the Grants Committee members remain closely involved with the funded organization. They are responsible for one or more non-profit programs in a supervisory as well as advisory capacity.

This year’s dedicated Auction Chairs were Tom Reece and Greg Slamowitz. Kerianne Flynn chaired the Benefit Committee and was instrumental in bringing in friends unaffilated with All Souls to a party she hosted at her home. Thereby, a new source of younger attendees were at the Christie’s event. Since All Souls outreach programs benefit the New York City community extending beyond All Souls immediate neighborhood, her initiative hopefully will be followed by others. Her idea to increase committee giving by raising the membership levels was highly successful too. Also to be recognized for outstanding generosity is this year’s Heart & Soul Fund honoree, Stephen Lash, who volunteered his services as a particularly adept auctioneer for this occasion—and many times before—as well as providing Christie’s facilities and in-house staff to assist at the auction. He joined the auction committee at the newly established Titanium level of $10,000 and brought in many family members and friends. Also at this giving level were Alan Jones and Ashley Garrett, Deerfield Management and the Santreece Foundation. Numerous donors gave at the $5,000 Platinum level as well as at the Gold, Silver and Crimson levels. All donors were acknowledged in the auction catalogue. Many other volunteers participated in many ways including checking guests in at Christie’s, totaling the receipts, setting up the silent auction, serving as spotters at the live auction and various other necessities.

I have enjoyed bidding on the trips offered in the Live Auction. This year I placed the winning bid for three hotels in China and Cambodia. This is the fourth trip I have taken through the live auction. My favorite was a week at Oxford where my husband and I were guests of the Principal of Harris Manchester College, The Rev. Dr. Ralph Waller and were seated beside him each day at High Table. In addition to trips, the Silent Auction offered stays at hotels ranging in location and style from the Dresden Hilton in Germany to the Inn at Essex in Vermont. Restaurants are also featured and run the gamut from The Tribeca Grill in Soho to Chef Ho’s Peking Duck Grill on the upper East Side. Tickets for theatre, music and dance as well as services including financial planning, group photography, spa and beauty treatments were among other donations. The silent auction brought in $28,160, approximately ten percent of the event’s proceeds.

The Auction Committee and Board of Directors seek additional intriguing ideas to auction. For example, if you know a professional, well-known chef who could donate services for a dinner party at the winning bidder’s home or at the chef’s restaurant, it would be most welcome. Do you know a portrait painter or photographer who would agree to offer services? Letters or other memorabilia autographed by famous people in sports, theatre, politics, literature, art, music or other areas of interest are popular items. Hotels, theatre, music or sport tickets are also well received. If you know anyone who fits into any of the above categories or have other interesting ideas, please contact the auction coordinator Liz Brown at the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund (212) 801-3092.

C. William Bechman, Chair and Founder of the Heart & Soul Charitable Fund offered his gratitude: “I wish to thank all participants who worked so hard in so many ways to make the auction the most successful in its eighteen year history. The extraordinary increase in proceeds will give the Grants Committee 50% more money for the commendable programs they fund serving people in need in our greater New York community.” Plans for next year’s auction, to be in February 2008, are underway. Kerianne Flynn and Greg Slamowitz have already agreed to be Co-Chairs.