By Emily Stifler Explorebigsky.com Managing Editor
The Ophir School pie auction this year raised more than $60,000—that’s $20,000 more than last year. In its 32nd year, the auction drew about 200 attendees to Bucks T-4 on the evening of March 10.
Creative prizes included an oversized, five-inch diameter sushi roll donated by the Yellowstone Club and a flower arrangement made to look like a cake from Big Sky Blooms.
The flower cake went into a fire bid that went up to $5,000, said Kimmi Warga, chair of the Pie Auction Committee. “Someone had their eyes set on it.”
Another highlight was ski furniture made by Mr. Neal’s fifth grade class, which in total sold for almost $7,000.
Warga attributes part of the success to new attendees, which she said brought great energy. Plus, she said, the quality of the auction items caused some of the bids to go for a lot.
Other big items included trips to Cabo San Lucas and the Yucatan, piano lessons with Klaudia Kosiak, and a year’s worth of property management from Hammond Properties.
Warga herself ended up with a 30-pound chicken potpie made by chefs at the Yellowstone Club.
“I couldn’t even put it in my oven,” she said. She expressed gratitude toward the YC, which also donated an extra-large cherry pie and helped bring club members to the auction.
“They were a huge part of our fundraising this year. They just went above and beyond.”
Laura Bell, pie auction publicist, said the $60,000 was gross revenue, and the group wasn’t sure yet of the amount netted.
