Whitey Hagen wearing “Thanks A Million” – Geneva Cancer Auction 1,000,000 club coat. With a cancer fundraising event in Geneva surpassing $2 million, he needs to get a new one.
Star Eagle photo by Cathy Paulson
Cathy Paulson
staff writer
Friday’s weather kept many people at home, but many loyal supporters will attend the second weekend of the 2022 Geneva Cancer Auction on Friday 14 January 2022 at the Geneva Bar and Grill. I braved the conditions to do so.
A special board displaying the name of the donor and the reason for the donation was displayed again this year. Listed on the board are: His $5,000 donation from the Maple Island Park Association. $4,500 from the Geneva Cancer Motorcycle Run. At the Cancer Golf Outing in August he raised $2,400. And he’s $1,000 at Bleachers Bar and Grill in Albert Lea. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who donated, including many who are not listed here.
Several commissions displayed the number of Geneva cancer auction raffle tickets purchased.
There were also several large green display boards showing how the Geneva Cancer Auction has contributed financially to the fight against cancer for 38 years. The first Geneva cancer auction was held in 1985 and raised $5,500.
At the end of each year’s fundraising event, the total amount raised will be added to the bulletin board. That total will be added to previous donations made to Eagles Cancer Telethon to make a grand total. The 2021 Live Auction was not held last January due to the pandemic, but the money raised from the raffle has been added along with the following events: Golf in August. Matt Felt Pool Tournament in November. Wild game feed for December. Several other donations came from the Steve Quam Memorial and his ABATE, bringing the total raised for 2021 to his $20,000. Combined with all these donations, the total amount raised from cancer fundraising events in Geneva since 1985 now exceeds $2 million (2,010,000).
go to auction
Jamie Hagen welcomed everyone to Friday night’s second weekend of the 2022 Geneva Cancer Auction. He encouraged attendees to get their bid numbers and informed everyone that there will be a Geneva Cancer Auction raffle again.As always, 2022 Geneva Cancer sweatshirts and his assortment of t-shirts had.
Jamie then put up a bid for a quart of the famous HOT Pickles that Roger and Sue Hill donated in Vi’s memory. Following that was the ‘Stew Package’ of the Geneva Gun Auction. This included a bag of potatoes and a bag of onions donated by Roger Shauns. The next tender was a bottle of Pat Goodnature’s house wine. The list of the many wonderful items donated to this year’s auction goes on and on.
Many of the items donated to the auction each year are to honor or commemorate friends and family, while others are given to help fight cancer. We appreciate each and every donation made by people and businesses here in the Southern Minnesota area. Without these donations, the amount of money the District of Geneva has raised for cancer research would not be possible.
After spending a month at the fitness center, Lerberg’s Fitness Center donated a one-month family membership to the fitness center, paired with a medium-sized sweatshirt that they thought would fit someone in the family. Needless to say, that comment caused some laughter.
Tom Donnelly, or Tom Donnelly’s best friend Finn Baumann, known as “Digger,” shared information about a donation to the auction. Along with his family, Finn remembered “Digger,” as well as Rodney Farr and Trisha Wayne, who lost their lives last year.
The Baumanns donned several digger-related items, including a shovel, the world’s most expensive leprechaun t-shirt, leprechaun socks, a stainless steel travel mug engraved with “until we meet again,” a bottle of Jameson liquor, and a six-pack of Guinness beer. donated some items.
The Baumann family said they would match the highest bidder up to $500. Hagen said the donation, given in memory of Digger, who was “a little Irish,” was loved by many. It sold for a high price of $850.
A young woman, Christine Bergeron, came to the Geneva Cancer Auction and planned to donate some of her hair for a ‘kid’s wig’. Bids were presented for five different braids of her created before the first cut was made. Brenna Hagen walked around the bar with a tray on her head, she collected $241, and she collected another $290.
This year’s auction also featured an assortment of many baked goods and gift certificates, and several different groups of retired Geneva cancer event t-shirts available for bid.
The long list of donated items is too many to list. I would like to be able to list all donations.
The 2022 Geneva Cancer Auction continued on Saturday, January 15th at 2pm and Whitey Hagen welcomed everyone. “The Geneva cancer auction is he one of the best fundraiser I’ve participated in,” said Hagen. “Apples, peaches, pumpkin pies…who aren’t ready to yell ‘yes’.” ”
Next, Hagen put up a bid for a quart jar of peach schnapps.
Next up for auction was a plate of Scotchelloo made and donated by Judy Christensen.
Barb Cookenbecker donated another assortment of handmade blankets. A gun quilt from Roxy Strand, who now lives in Lakeville, is also one of our next bids.
Geneva Lumber donated a hooded sweatshirt and the highest bidder decided to donate that sweatshirt to the auction. I thought we should compete. Jamie could claim honor because the sweatshirt cost him $10 more.
Saturday’s auction also included two crystal “healing bracelets” created and donated by Jenny Gallhofer. One he raised $250 and the other he raised $400.
It was later announced that November’s Matt Felt Pool Tournament had raised a total of $1,842.26. It was Matt’s birthday on Saturday, so the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to him before moving on to the next item.
At this point in the auction, Jim Manges asked Tony Sommers to participate in the “farm” portion of the auction item. The following companies donated numerous items or credits: Ulland Brothers, LP Gas, Pioneer Seed, Golden Harvest Channel, and his CFS.
Barb Kakenbecker made and donated a John Deere blanket.
Tony Foster donated some metal outdoor signs he made.
At this point in the auction, Jamie Hagen announced that colorful cloth piggy banks would be brought in for cash donations. The pig, which showed up last weekend and the night before, was later put up for auction and sold for $375.
Several pizzas were auctioned off and enjoyed immediately.
In memory of Bonnie Clemmensen, the Clemmensen brothers again donated a “half-pig”. New Richland’s Neighbor’s Meats, along with Thrivent, donated processing costs.
A Facebook bid for the Policeman quilt wall hanging and pillow donated by Judy Christensen was put up for auction.
A 65-inch Samsung Crystal UHD TV donated by Sorenson’s Appliance was also put up for bid.
During the course of this year’s Geneva cancer auction, a special young woman from our area, Trisha Wayne, was honored and remembered. I was. October 1, 2021.
Pandora jewelry was donated for auction in Trisha’s honor. Also, Trisha’s favorite collection has been put together in a basket. The auction also included a handcrafted end-her table and beautiful vases, and Remi’s Wayne also donated a photo session to Trisha’s memory.
Winning tickets for the 2022 Geneva Cancer Auction Raffle have been selected before the 2022 Geneva Cancer Auction closes at 10:30pm. Winners include: His $1,000 to 112 restaurants in Albert Lea. $500 was paid to Bruyton Johnson. $400 was paid to Harold Bair. $300 to Gary Durham. $200 to Todd Creewell. $100 for Carmel Faden.
A special thank you to the many people who helped make this special event possible. It takes a lot of people to keep such an event going for 38 years. Donors and buyers, auctioneers, clerks, runners, etc. need a village. Thank you to all of them for everything they did to make this event a success.
On Sunday morning, Brenna Hagen traveled to Rochester for the Eagle Cancer Telethon to make a presentation on behalf of the community that made this donation possible, as her grandfather, 89-year-old Whitey Hagen, has done for 38 years. I was. The annual telethon was broadcast on her KTTC television. Brenna presented her $145,000 check to her telethon at the 68th Annual Eagles.
In addition to this, please note that donations from our community to Eagle Cancer Telethon totaled $2,155,000. Special thanks to everyone who made it possible.
Together we can make a difference.
Footnote: The Geneva Cancer Commission was unable to auction all of the items put up for auction in 2022, so the Commission plans to hold a “cleanup” auction on Saturday, April 2nd. Day. Mark your calendars to find out more.
