The Emporia Friends of the Zoo (EFOZ) Roundup Auction once again was wildly popular, and several community members gathered and brought in a record number of funds Friday.
The final total from the annual auction came in at well over $72,000. The top three items up for bid included the Mountain Lion Sponsorship which sold for $5,000, send a zookeeper to a conference for $2,750 and a Tempur-cloud Luxe Breeze mattress from Guion’s showcase for $2,500.
EFOZ is a community group founded in 1978 whose main purpose has been to provide financial support for the expansion, development, and maintenance of the David Traylor Zoo. The annual Roundup Auction is the group’s sole fundraiser, and the money raised will fund the Zoo’s $4.3 million Oasis Campaign.
This campaign funds eight major renovations and David Traylor Zoo Director Lisa Keith talks about its progress.
The auction featured two auctions, one live and one silent, where a huge variety of items donated by local organizations, were up for bid. Live music, catered food, and a cash bar served as the event’s accommodations.
Every year, this event garners outstanding support for the Zoo, but it doesn’t just come together on its own. EFOZ board member Janel Wiederholt explains that the hardworking employees of the Zoo office put in the effort annually. Wiederholt goes over the auction’s importance to EFOZ and the Zoo.
For more information on the Oasis Campaign or to donate, visit the EFOZ website at http://emporiazoo.org/.
Photos by Devon Swartz/KVOE News
{gallery}030119 EFOZ Auction{/gallery}
