This year’s FWSF Holiday party was a great success with a few new additions!

The elegant room at the Metropolitan Club was warm and inviting, with white table cloths of enticing auction items, the glimmer of beautiful jewelry and many smiling faces. This year’s FWSF Holiday party was a great success with a few new additions: Our annual auction to raise money for the Scholarship Endowment included a silent auction this year. The bigger auction items were bid on live and were hosted by a new and very enthusiastic auctioneer and his helpful wife.

Two of our past scholarship recipients who are very involved in the organization, Stephanie Hyde and Shelby Duncan, read the live auction item descriptions aloud bringing our impressive selection to life. Donated items for the silent auction this year included designer jewelry, Coach purse, wine tasting, spa package, gift certificates for boutiques/restaurants and tickets for Disneyland, theatre and sporting events! The winning bidders from the live auction took home one of several getaways from Calistoga/Sonoma to Hawaii, golf lessons, a handmade Herati Balouch prayer rug and a weekend stay at an upscale San Francisco hotel! The hit of the live auction was a tasty new addition to the festivities – three specialty baked goods homemade by members of the Endowment committee! These delectable delights went for an impressive price, and then the winning bidders kindly shared their treats with the audience. The auction ended with an energetic paddle raise for outright donations, and we could not be more thankful for our generous donors!

Another special addition to the event was designer jeweler Gigi Kaufman who brought an amazing selection of jewelry and donated 10% of her sales that night to the Scholarship Endowment. She generously donated one of her stunning pieces for auction.

The festive atmosphere had delicious spirits and snacks, and with a cheerful spirit to begin a new year with Darcy Illg as president. We hope you join us again next year!