Back in 2002 an auction of a few items to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at a party held in a North Dallas backyard brought in about $7000. Fast forward to late 2007 and the little party has become a major fundraising event for the Memphis based hospital which now includes a celebrity golf tournament, big name entertainment and an auction that has become the focal point of the party. The weeklong festivities were highlighted by the annual St. Jude “Evening Under The Stars” party held October 25th at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel resulting in total proceeds topping $917,000.
“It was the best we’ve ever had” said Joe Haggar, patriarch of the Haggar Clothing Company who has been involved since the start and helped organize the first event. Haggar, a member of the original St. Jude Hospital board which entertainer Danny Thomas helped form, is still a member today. “Whatever I can do to help these kids is what we’re all about and I receive far more from it than I what I give”, “We are so fortunate to have good people like Charlie Daniels, Event Chairman Michael Gruber, golf Chairman Derek Harper and Auctioneer Mike Jones helping us to make this a huge success.”
This year’s featured entertainment was Country Music and Southern Rock Star Charlie Daniels who flew in from Nashville to perform at Mr. Haggar’s request. Daniels, on a tight time line, performed and immediately headed back to Love Field for a private plane ride back to Nashville to record a new album the next morning. Backstage when Haggar thanked Daniels for coming, he quipped “Mr. Haggar, you don’t need to thank me, I should be thanking you for getting me involved with St. Jude”. Daniels, the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry and best known for his country hits like “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”, “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” and “Uneasy Rider” also serves on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Professional Advisory Board.
Professional Auctioneer and Dallas area resident Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services and his team returned again to conduct the Live Auction. “There is no way I would miss this one” Jones said. “Anytime Mr. Haggar calls you to do something, you don’t want to turn him down, he is one of my favorite people” he added. This years Live Auction highlights included a golf outing described as “Golf Heaven …for Eight...Via Private Jet” to Kohler, Wisconsin brought in $60,000, Dancing With The Stars California trip $19,000, Private Party for 100 with 22 piece orchestra at the Dallas Arboretum $14,500, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins trip fetched $9,000, Black South Seas Pearl Earrings $9000, Samsung 500 NASCAR Racing Package from Roger Staubach and Hall of Fame Racing $8500, Palm Springs Golf Outing $8500, Crested Butte Ski Accommodations for 20 $7500, Meet Dirk Novitski Package $5500 and a Football signed by Hall of Fame Quarterbacks signed by Staubach, Montana and Archie and Peyton Manning fetched $5500. All told, the evening’s festivities brought in over $317,000.
The St. Jude staff and volunteers are already gearing up for another great event in 2008.
