Going "Mad" for Public Interest at the 2010 CLF Auction
It isn't often that women model exquisite jewelry and men sport questionable mustaches on the same night for the same cause. At the Thirteenth Annual Chicago Law Foundation Auction last week, the two converged to raise a record-breaking $107,000 for student public interest fellowships.
The Chicago Law Foundation (CLF) is a student-directed, not-for profit group that awards grants to law students who devote their summers to working in public interest. Because few public interest organizations and government agencies have the money to pay law students for summer employment, CLF assists law students who would not otherwise be able to work for such organizations. CLF is non-partisan and funds projects that fall anywhere on the political spectrum.
Each January, CLF holds an auction in the Green Lounge to raise money for these summer grants. The auction is a lively event, with bidding wars, a performance from the Law School's a cappella group, Scales of Justice, a mustache contest, and a theme (this year's was "Mad Men") that students demonstrate with fitting fashion, drink concoctions, and elaborate décor.
This year's silent auction had more than 200 items, ranging from gift certificates at local restaurants to original artwork, from create-your-own-fragrance experiences to sporting event tickets. The items offered by students are among the most popular - babysitting, rides to the airport, ice-skating lessons, homemade baked goods and ethnic feasts, and even tours of Gary, Indiana. Law School staff gets into the act as well, with the library staff offering private tours of the rare book collection and Dean of Admissions Ann Perry offering the lucky bidder a chance to call five Law School applicants with the good news that they've been admitted! (A full list is available here.)
The big ticket items are auctioned live in a fabulous, chaotic event in the middle of the Green Lounge. Professor Douglas Baird served, as he has for many years, as the auctioneer, masterfully working the crowd to encourage the bids ever higher. The live auction items tend to generate the most excitement, and raise the most money. Best sellers are usually one-of-a-kind experiences with professors. You want to play Monopoly with renowned property experts Lior Strahilevitz and Dean Michael Schill? This year, it went for $1,000. Drooling over the prospect of Martha Nussbaum cooking Indian food for you in her home? $750. Jazzed to visit indie-rock clubs with Adam Cox? $1,400. Play Wii with Emily Buss? $600. Ride Jet Karts with Todd Henderson? $800. The most popular professor-offered item was, as it often is, Professor Baird's offering of a scotch tasting for eight people in his home, which sold for $2,500.
Other priceless items auctioned included the "instant California wine collection" of 20 incredible bottles, generously donated by Mayer Brown's Christian Binnig ($1,000), dinner at the home of famed Chicago chef Art Smith ($1,100), and weeks in vacation homes in Michigan ($2,800), Keystone, Colorado ($1,400), Zurich ($2,000), and Vienna ($2,100). The hottest seller of the night was a set of backstage passes for the 2010 NBA Draft, generously donated by NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver '88 ($3,000).
Many of the students dressed in their finest in adherence to "Mad Men" style and acted the part, as well, by sipping on martinis and manhattans. Auction sponsor Marshall Pierce & Co. not only generously donated a beautiful diamond ring setting to be auctioned, but they also hosted on-site. They provided 25 stunning pieces of jewelry for the men and women of CLF to wear during the auction, and also hosted the "alumni lounge" offered for alumni and friends attending the event.
In one of the most unusual traditions to have sprung up at recent auctions, this year marked the third annual Oliver Wendell Holmes Mustache Contest. Students wishing to participate begin growing their mustaches on January 1, and photos are taken of them the day of the auction. These photos are attached to boxes and auction attendees vote with their wallets - the participant who raises the most money for CLF in his (and yes, it's all men) box is declared the winner. This year's winner was Matt Kopko, '11, who also took home the Donnie Brasco Cup for Mustache Most Suited to Undercover Police Work. Each participating student took home an "award," dubious distinctions including Mustache Most Likely to Be Voted Student Body President (to Reid Bolton, '10) and INTERPOL Prize for Mustache Most Likely to Foil an International Jewel Heist (to Bill Weaver, '10). If you must, you can see photos of these 'staches in the CLF auction slide show.
By the time the evening ended, the students, faculty, staff, and alumni in attendance had eaten wonderful food generously donated by Zig Zag catering, enjoyed Mad Men-themed libations, experienced the thrill of victory, the agony of being outbid by your best friend, and - most importantly - raised $107,000 for CLF, 20% more than the previous Auction record. Chair Oren Lund, '10, said "we're thrilled that we'll be able to provide grants to all of the public interest students that need them this year. We're very proud of ourselves and of the law school community for coming together for a great cause."
CLF would like to thank its generous sponsors and everyone who donated time, money, and goods for the event. We hope to see you all at the 2011 CLF Auction!