Donors up the ante at WICS auction

West Island Community Shares closed off what the charity organization deemed a highly successful second annual fundraising auction Tuesday night at Pointe Claire's La Sirène de La Mer restaurant, raising $61,000 that, as usual, it will all give back to the community in a few months' time.

"I'm very honoured by the generosity of people," said WICS director-general Caroline Tison during the evening, two days before the final amount raised was announced.

Billed a combined live experiences/silent auction, Tison said the idea was to ensure anyone invited would be able to bid on the items present, which ranged from $100 to $2,000.

The live experiences included items such as a private dinner with legendary Montreal Canadiens retired hockey player—and West Islander—Guy Lafleur, or another dinner with former Habs coach Guy Carbonneau.

In fact, one such experience turned into the liveliest display of community generosity that night.

An item donated by the Sirène restaurant, lunch for 25 people, was first "upgraded" to a dinner by the restaurant's management, and then bought up by a bidder for $5,000 after a "friendly bidding war" according to WICS community co-ordinator Linda Thompson.

The bidder, Sam Mortazavi, then returned the item to the bidding floor, where it was purchased for another $5,000, thus allowing the community organization to collect $10,000.

"I'm tired of closing my eyes and looking the other way," Mortazavi said when reached for comment about his gesture. He and his wife feel fortunate to be in good health and wanted to give something back to the community, he said.

On Tuesday, Tison said the organization was hoping to raise $50,000 this year, a goal that it wound up surpassing by about 35 per cent.

Silent auction items for sale included an assortment of gift certificates, drinks, small toys for children, electronics, etc.

Robert Bouillon, director-general of the Caisse Populaire Desjardins Sainte-Geneviève de Pierrefonds, an important sponsor of WICS since its inception many years ago, said the organization is unique in its mandate.

""It's the only organization in the West Island that gives back everything that they receive locally," he said, referring to WICS' doling out of funds every year to different charities operating in the West Island.

"I bid on a few items here and there, some presents for my grand-children," Bouillon said with a laugh when asked if he had his eyes set on a particular prize.

He was not allowed to bid for the dinner with Lafleur, he admitted, since Desjardins arranged for that item to be on auction in the first place as a sponsor.

Some among the approximately 30 groups that are helped out by WICS every year had volunteer representatives at the evening itself.

"(The auction) helps raise funds, and also some awareness," said Debbie St. Martin, the administrative director of the Omega Centre, which has helped out victims of mental illnesses for 23 years in the area.