Blue Jeans & Bling raises $23,000

By Lee Ellen Benjamin

The Blue Jeans & Bling gala held Saturday, Feb. 25 at Indian Hills Country Club in Atlanta, and hosted by the Atlanta Education Foundation (AEF), was a resounding success. 
The glittering affair was well attended. More than 100 people dined on Big Jake’s Barbecue, had their pictures taken in a photo booth and boot-scooted to music by DJ Wes Spicher of Texarkana. 
Professional auctioneer Shelby Crump hosted the festivities. He was not only efficient, but entertaining. He reminded the crowd, “This is a fundraiser and FUN is part of that, so let’s have some fun and raise a LOT of money for the foundation!” 
His effortless staccato sold many valuable as well as fashionable items, which included a Kate Spade purse for $400; a 49” LED TV from Flint Furniture for $400; an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol for $110; four tickets to see Miranda Lambert in concert at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier for $300; two tickets to see “Phantom of the Opera” in Little Rock, including hotel accommodations, for $400; a four-night stay at Disney World, including hotel and airfare, for $4,000; three nights in Las Vegas, including tickets to a top show and airfare, for $2,500; a hamburger at the Rabbit Patch named for the bidder for a mere $275; and an extra generous bidder won the right to have lunch with the Atlanta Fire Department and a ride on the big fire truck for $1,000. The fabulous five-day, four-night stay on the bay side in Gulf Shores, Ala., was won by Jennifer Clements in the raffle.
Crump kept the crowd going with no let-up. He frequently alluded to the work of the foundation, which awards local teacher grants each year. Along with the Atlanta Alumni Association, the AEF sponsors the Outstanding Alumni Awards, presented each year at AHS Homecoming. Additionally, each spring the foundation hosts the annual “Walk the Red Carpet” for the top 10 percent of the graduating class of Atlanta High School. 
Thanks to the polished rhythm of the auctioneer, the many exquisite items up for bid and the generosity of attendees, the foundation received in excess of $23,000, which exceeded last year’s total by $5,000.
“We are very pleased with the turnout and we appreciate the donors, the sponsors and all the bidders, who made the event such a success,” said AEF Executive Director Pam Huffman.
Blue Jeans & Bling is the primary fundraiser supporting the work of the AEF. If you would like to donate to the Atlanta Education Foundation, you can contact Huffman at the Atlanta Independent School District Administration Building, 903-796-4194.