Photo school holds Holiday Auction

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Therese Mulligan

Bill DuBois, professor emeritus and former administrative chair of RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, leads bidding at last year’s Holiday Auction. This year’s event is Dec. 20 in the lobby of Frank E. Gannett Hall.

People looking for a wide variety of unique gift items and the rewarding feeling that comes with helping others are invited to the 26^th annual holiday auction hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences on Dec. 20. The event is free and open to the public.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, which offers lodging and support for families of critically ill children receiving medical attention in area health-care facilities.

Items up for bid include cameras — including a Leica V-Lux 3 model — photographic equipment, software, an iPad, and restaurant and lodging gift certificates. Bidding gets under way at 5 p.m. in the lobby of Frank E. Gannett Hall on RIT’s campus. A number of items are on display for a “sneak peek” in the lobby of Gannett Hall beforehand. The first 250 bidders to register will receive a $5 coupon to The Distillery or Pellegrino’s Deli Cafe.

In addition to the live auction, there will be a silent auction featuring faculty- and alumni-donated artwork.

The remainder of the proceeds will help defray some of the costs for students and team leaders attending RIT’s Big Shot at Cowboys Stadium in Texas this March.

Students are coordinating the auction and have been working with area businesses to obtain items up for auction. All ages are invited to take part in the bidding. Bill DuBois, professor emeritus and former administrative chair of the school’s photographic arts program, again will serve as auctioneer.

“This is a wonderful annual event and students have worked hard to gather donations from area businesses, especially given the challenging economy,” says Nanette Salvaggio, a lecturer in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences and faculty adviser for the auction. “They’ve also chosen an amazing charity to receive a portion of the proceeds from the event.”

Free pizza and soft drinks will be served. Contact RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at 585-475-2716 or go to The College of Art and Design website for more information.