Aiming to raise more than $25,000 for the Public Interest Project, Boston University’s School of Law will hold its 10th annual Public Interest Auction tonight at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the George Sherman Union.
The event will feature both a live and silent auction, along with refreshments for the faculty, donors and hundreds of members from the legal community who are expected to attend.
“For the past few days people have been talking non-stop about all the great stuff that’s going to be auctioned off,” said Laura Toddero, a freshman in the College of Communication.
Items were donated by businesses and restaurants from all over the Boston area, including Jillian’s on Lansdowne Street and the Museum of Fine Arts. Since the expected bidding audience varies from budgeted students to successful alumni, the value of the items spread across a wide spectrum and range from the practical to the bizarre.
The items to be auctioned include expensive vacations such as three weeks in an Italian villa to a one-night stay for two at the Boston Harbor Hotel complete with breakfast, use of the health club and valet parking. Other available vacations include excursions for a weekend in Provincetown or Memorial Day weekend in Nantucket.
Attendees who prefer more adventurous items can bid on a three-hour whale watching trip for two from Dolphin Fleet, a photograph of the NBA championship game signed by both Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, a private beer-tasting tour for 10 at the Westport River Vineyard and Winery or five gift certificates for a three-hour session at Boston Paintball.
Organizers have geared many of the items to be auctioned toward students with the hope that they too will be able to support the cause by bidding on less expensive items such as a five on five student-faculty basketball game, a performance by singing professors “Pettit, Fisher and Simons,” a walk with professor Bob Kent followed by a New England baked bean supper for six or homemade pizza and a night of Genesis with professor Jack Beerman.
All proceeds from the auction will go to the Public Interest Project, a completely student-run organization that formed in 1984 with the slogan, “Through Deeds, Not Words.”
The Project’s mission is “to increase the number of law practitioners who devote part or all of their career to working in the public interest,” as stated on its website. The organization coordinates a summer grants program and encourages students to attend pro bono events and conferences.
Public Interest has awarded more than 280 grants in the past which have aided in urging students to provide representation for traditionally disadvantaged groups or individuals by working in areas of law continually overlooked, such as immigration, environmental and discrimination law.
Last year’s auction raked in $25,000 according to organizers. The goal is to exceed that amount tonight, thus allowing them to eclipse last year’s record 38 summer grants awarded. Tickets are $10 at the door and all BU students and faculty are welcome to attend.
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