BARNEY’S BASH AUCTION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

This year’s Barney’s Bash online auction ran April 21-25, with the livestream main event held on April 24.

Annually the biggest fundraising event to support the MHCC Foundation, this year’s Bash raised $153,000 said officials – very close to the amount raised a year earlier, when the normally “gala” dinner event also was held online.

The money raised will help Mt. Hood students.

The funds raised by the event go towards the Foundation’s greatest needs fund, which includes the areas of scholarships, classroom equipment, special program funds, and student emergency funds, explained Judi Charman, development officer for the Foundation.

“The event also brings people who care about our college, our students and our community together for a common cause. Our supporters miss getting together in-person and look forward to celebrating together next year,” she said.

Charman said the online auction applied lessons from the 2020 version, also held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We learned a lot!” she said. “We expanded our digital promotions and gained an audience of people who may not have come to a live, in-person event. We also incorporated more student videos which really show our supporters the reason we raise money.

“Another great feature added this year was adding videos submitted by sponsors. It’s great to hear how and why they value their partnerships with MHCC,” she said.