MCBAIN — The McBain Rural Agricultural School Foundation (MRASF) is looking for your support ahead of its April auction.
The foundation is currently looking for items and new donors to support its auction on April 20. The auction helps the foundation provide scholarships and class equipment for McBain School students.
A portion of the money also is given out as gratitude gifts to student volunteers.
Since 1999, the foundation has awarded 422 scholarships, totaling over $1.1 million. Over $80,000 in classroom equipment has also been given to the school.
This year the foundation is planning to award 42 scholarships totaling nearly $113,000.
See Auction on A-8
Scholarships can help students with different expenses such as books, tuition and room and board.
Some scholarships are also earmarked for students going into specific fields such as agriculture, teaching and medicine and more. Students also have to meet specific parameters during their first year of post-secondary education before receiving the scholarship money from the foundation.
“(The auction) gives students opportunities to foster their learning heart that will change their lives and the lives of numerous people,” MRASF Board Director Jack Klunder said.
“Teaching personal finance I got to see the reality of a lot of the financial situations that families were in and this was the bridge to that next opportunity.”
The MRASF auction is scheduled for April 20 at the McBain Schools’ auditorium. MRASF Board Director Daniella Bell said the doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the auction will begin at 6 p.m.
The foundation will have a silent and live auction. MRASF Board Director Carolyn Flores said the silent auction is typically for small items such as gift cards, theme baskets and homemade baked goods. The live auction is for larger items or packages like family outings, tool sets, homemade items and much more.
Bell said this year the foundation is looking for items that appeal to people of all ages. This includes things families can enjoy together such as a golf outing or tickets to a sporting event.
Klunder said they are also looking for recreational items like bikes or kayaks.
New donors are also encouraged to provide items for the auction. Bell said people with a home-based business can submit a basket to showcase their business or skill.
This could include someone who makes honey, maple syrup or homemade items.
“If they have talent that they want to showcase and donate a piece that they made, we love homemade stuff,” Bell said.
Those interested in donating can contact Flore at (231) 357-9513. Monetary donations in the form of cash or a check made out to the foundation can be sent to her address at 5801 W. Falmouth Road in McBain.
The foundation can also help with tax donation letters for people.
Something new the foundation will be doing at its auction is featuring students and their talents. Bell said they will have art and woodshop pieces on display for the public to view. Some of the items will also be auctioned for.
Students in the high school music program will be providing entertainment at the auction. National Honor Society students will be assisting will displaying items for the auction.
McBain’s Rambler Review broadcasting classes are also helping out by creating and airing commercials to explain the purpose of the foundation and its auction.
“It’s about fostering talent, a learning heart beyond just academics and meeting the students where their skill is because not everybody is athletic. Not everybody’s academic,” Bell said. “We understand that and that’s why we’re trying to support them in whatever their endeavors are past graduation.”
More information about the MRASF can be found on its website, new Facebook page and new LinkedIn page. The foundation is aiming to raise $30,000 at this year’s auction.
