Last night my husband and I attended a charity auction and dinner to benefit Kids Unlimited, a local organization that for the past 15-plus years has provided after-school, summertime and sports programs for the children in the Rogue Valley here in southern Oregon. Just this past year, VIBES Public Charter School was established under the organization’s umbrella, starting off with 150 students in first through third grades in an extended-day, extended-year model. A lot of those kids had difficulty in traditional classrooms and/or come from low-income families that struggle to provide the basics. Therefore, VIBES offers three meals a day to its students as well as a host of enrichment classes and experiences in a very supportive environment. The event was held on the Kids Unlimited campus, and each guest was greeted at the door by one of the VIBES students (with a very grown-up handshake and introduction), who gave a quick tour through the classrooms and then escorted their guests to their tables in the gymnasium. Last year we were in the smaller activity space, seating a little over 100; this year’s event drew nearly 400, who by the end of the evening had raised nearly $300,000 toward support of the programs this vital community resource provides. Throughout the evening we heard testimonials from young people now attending colleges throughout the United States who benefited from the mentoring and support of the program. We also heard of ambitious plans to expand the charter school, with a full-day kindergarten and fourth grade classes added next year, as well as a building expansion and development of a Family Support Center. The auction, now in its eighth year, is supported and sponsored by two local athletes who have done well and continue to give back to their community. Chad Cota played University of Oregon football before enjoying eight years in the NFL, playing defensive back for the Colts and the Panthers. Kyle Singler played basketball at Duke University and now plays for the Detroit Pistons. Together with Kyle’s younger brother, EJ, who played basketball for Oregon, I’m sure they contributed some of the special sports packages and memorabilia offered last night through the silent and live auctions. There was an Andrew Luck autographed jersey, floor tickets to a Portland Trailblazers game, and a “Suite” Deal at the Moda Center in Portland, offering 16 guests the chance to watch the Blazers take on the Pistons from a luxury suite hosted by Kyle Singler’s parents. Football fans bid on the chance to enjoy an Oregon game from the sidelines with Chad Cota, while Oregon State fans could travel to Hawaii for a 5-day package that included game tickets for the Beavers versus the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors; golf; accommodations at the Ala Moana Hotel on Waikiki; a luau; and dinner at the Pacific Club, Hawaii’s premier private club. Other packages included golf at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Global Traveler‘s GT Tested Awards Best Golf Resort in 2012; a world-class Alaskan fishing trip including round-trip airfare, seaplane transportation to fresh- and saltwater fishing spots and flightseeing, five-star dining and accommodations and the chance to snag trophy-worthy salmon and halibut; and fishing and hunting excursions in Eastern Oregon. For those who like to travel but want a more laid-back vacation, there was a one-week, two-house package available in Sayulita, a charming Old Mexico village 40 miles outside of Puerto Vallarta. The entire evening was underwritten by Lithia Motors, a local auto retailer which just this week announced a major acquisition, expanding its dealerships to the East Coast and Southern California. Sid DeBoer, present chairman of the board and founder of the company, has contributed to many causes here, and last night added to his stature as a philanthropist in donating $100,000 to Kids Unlimited. I couldn’t think of a better organization to support! — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor