November 3, 2006

Silver Creek Valley Marketing Group holds 3rd Annual Pumpkin Auction

The Silver Creek Valley Marketing Group got into the Halloween spirit last week, auctioning off pumpkins decorated by the students and staff at Kathryn R. Smith Elementary School. All proceeds from the live auction benefited the school.

All told, the auction was able to raise $3,400. In addition, the Silver Creek Valley Marketing Group is increasing the donation by $600 from its own funds so that the total gift will be $4,000 to Kathryn R. Smith Elementary. 

Pumpkins and art supplies were donated to the students and staff, who in turn decorated the pumpkins for the auction. Pumpkins were donated by Ray Castaneda of the Cruz Realty Group, as well as Albertsons, while pumpkin decorations were supplied by Diane Kim Hanne of GMAC Mortgage.

In addition, SCVRMG gathered donations of $125 a piece to buy Halloween themed flower arrangements. These flower arrangements were then included as auction items. Floral arrangements were created by Bloomsters Florist on Almaden Expressway, and Young Flowers of Campbell. Pumpkins went from $25 to $100 at the auction, while flower arrangements went from $100 to $150 each.

Some of the designs on this year’s pumpkins included Nemo and Dory, the tin man from Wizard of Oz, the Happy Witch, Popeye, and many more. 

In addition to regular-sized pumpkins at the auction, SCVRMG also received three enormous pumpkins – a 300-pound pumpkin and two 200-pound pumpkins – as a donation from realtor Frank Crane, who has a neighbor that grows pumpkins for competition. 

Other sponsors for the event included: Carma Van Houten – Washington Mutual, Clayton Young and Gary Soule – GMAC Mortgage, Joelle Cruz - RELAX magazine, Windermere Silver Creek Valley Realty, Elizabeth Castillo – First American Title, Alan Jones – Alkar International Gift Solutions for You, and Ted Stephanos – Blue NHD.