The 68th annual Henderson Lions Online and television Auction is just a few weeks away. This Years’ auction will be held live on Cable Channel 197 beginning February 10th and running through February 14th, from 7:00PM to 1000:PM each evening. For the fourth year in a row, the final night of the auction, Saturday, February 15th, will be a live event at Rookies Sports Bar and Restaurant in downtown Henderson. Lions are busy selling tickets that cost $50.00 each, or $75.00 a couple, the same as the past three years. Between 130 and 150 tickets will be sold.
As always, the televised part of the auction over the first five nights will feature a wide variety of items, ranging from items for the home, car care, lawn and garden, food certificates from local restaurants and just about any type of service you can find in Henderson, as well as certificates from local merchants. The February 15th live auction will feature a number of “big ticket” items: an Apple Series 5 Smart Watch, tickets to Disney World in Florida, an Ellis Park “Day at the Races” package, a two-night stay at a Cabin in Gatlinburg, a Stihl gas chain saw and even a visit from Santa Claus!
Except for the live event at Rookies, the entire auction will be conducted at the old IBT building on Second Street. Lions will still be carried on Cable Channel 197 using equipment and expertise provided by Henderson Community College, but the cable cast will originate at the IBT building rather than the college campus, a first for the auction. Items purchased will be picked up at IBT as well, and exact pickup times will be released soon. The Henderson Lions wish to thank the City of Henderson for allowing us to use the building for the auction again this year. Channel 44-WEVV is also supporting us again this year by promoting the auction on-air and airing nightly auction reports on their 9:00PM newscast.
Last year, the Henderson Lions Auction raised nearly $32,000, and the goal this year is to do even better. The Lions returned more than $30,000 to the local community in the form of grants to non-profit organizations in 2019, as well as $5,000 in scholarships to local students. The Lions also provide eyeglasses and eye surgeries for those cannot afford them, and also screen local grade school students for eye problems in the Henderson County School System. Donations for the auction are a tax deduction. The Henderson Lions are a 501-© organization.