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The Neihardt Date Auction and Talent Show

Date Auction is an annual philanthropy for the Nebraska Make-A-Wish Foundation. This event, hosted by the resident assistants of Neihardt Hall, is a 20 year tradition and is usually the largest University Housing philanthropic event of the year.

The Date Auction is basically a talent show where each act is bid on, and the highest bidder receives a “date package” donated by local businesses. The Neihardt resident assistants work hard each year to make this amazing event a show that everyone can enjoy.

Date Auction 2017
Date Auction Snapchat Filter

As the Senior Resident Assistant of Neihard Hall, I had the opportunity to lead the planning of this valued tradition. Here are some of the things I accomplished for the event:

  1. Changed of location for the event from inside Neihardt Hall to the CPN Dining Center to allow for more people to attend the event.
  2. Designed the inaugural Date Auction shirts and acquired funding to cover the cost.
  3. Implemented a new bidding system to streamline the fundraising process.
  4. Coordinated with Nebraska Make-A-Wish representatives to have a presentation and booth at the event.
  5. Developed a Date Auction master checklist for future staffs who were planning the event.
  6. Proposed and purchased a new sound system to be used in various Neihardt Hall events
  7. Snapchat filter for the event.


Date Auction shirt
Date Auction attendence graphic
Date Auction donations graphic

Impact

In the four years I was involved with the Neihardt Date Auction, it raised over $20,000 for the Nebraska Make-A-Wish Foundation. When I took the lead in planning the event, my goal was to make it bigger and better. We succeeded, increasing the event's attendance by 33% in the first year, leading to almost $1,000 in additional donations. I secured food sponsorships from 3 popular downtown restaurants in addition to monetary sponsorships from 3 campus entities.

The Neihardt Date Auction was positioned to grow when I left, and has continued to succeed. This year, with the demolition of Cather and Pound Halls, the event will move to the newly-built Willa Cather Dining Center and I'm excited to see the new things they have planned.

You can check out videos of Date Auction performances here!