KLRN Public Television is gearing up for the 2016 Blazing Gavels Auction, LIVE on-air June 8-11 and 15-18, starting at 7PM each evening. This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the most beloved community events and we are pulling out all of the stops, with the help of many donors, members, and volunteers.
Each year, Blazing Gavels attracts thousands of donors and bidders from across San Antonio and beyond, all to help support KLRN’s educational and children’s programming. All of the items featured in the Auction are generously donated by local and national businesses and organizations. What started as a three- day event 50 years ago has now become one of the most anticipated 8-day long LIVE TV events in our community.
THE HISTORY OF BLAZING GAVELS
The Auction was born in 1966, when a group of volunteers began to seek out local businesses the old fashion way by going door-to-door asking graciously for gifted items to be auctioned off. Even though it was a new idea, the volunteers knew the Auction served as a common space where the community could gather and feel a neighborly spirit of belonging. The event was a big hit with the community, and began to draw larger crowds.
The volunteer group was small but determined to keep this event on-going by establishing working relationships with many of the local organizations. Over the years, interesting items have been gifted, such as longhorns, race cars, miniature horses, yarn owls and art. Traditions started to form early on and innovation bloomed as more and more businesses desired to be part of the multimedia event. All of that work has led us to today.
Celebrating our 50th with us will be many of the volunteers from the early days of the Auction who will be present to share their stories and Blazing Gavels memories. In addition, this year we are rebranding with a new logo and an updated set that combines both modern and traditional elements. You can also expect local celebrities to stop by and host, as well as numerous groups of people who volunteer to answer phones and take bids.
KLRN is currently seeking donations, sponsorships and volunteers to celebrate 50 years of Blazing Gavels.
For more information on being part of the Auction as a donor, please contact John Costello at (210) 208-8435 or jcostello@klrn.org. To download a donor form, click here.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Valerie Darling at (210) 208-8403 or vdarling@klrn.org
ABOUT KLRN:
KLRN is the Emmy-Award winning Public Television station for South Central Texas broadcasting to a 30-county radius. “The mission of KLRN is to use the power of communications to provide quality programs and services which advance education, culture and community, to enrich the lives of people throughout our community.” www.klrn.org
