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The recession has hit the Friends of Gateway Foundation, like many nonprofits, hard.

“Attendance was way off at our spring event,” said co-founder Keith Bunch. “It’s definitely more challenging this year.”

Bunch is hoping the group’s fall fundraiser will be more successful.

Friends of Gateway will hold its ninth annual Holiday Charity Art Auction from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Proehlific Park. All proceeds from the auction benefit children at Gateway Education Center and the Exceptional Children’s programs in the Guilford County Schools. Art from area artists and gifts, including mountain and beach get-aways and home improvement items, will be a part of the event’s live and silent auctions. Tickets are $25.

“With the recession, we really need to push extra in support of the arts this year,” Bunch said.
Through the years, the fall art auction has grown, from drawing about 100 participants the first year to about 500 last year. The auction last year raised $45,000.

For the Bunches, helping Friends of Gateway is personal. Keith and Lisa’s 13-year-old son Krae has cerebral palsy and was a student in the infant-toddler program at Gateway.
 

“We saw their need for funding and wanted to start a foundation to help the special-needs community,” he said.

This year’s art auction will include music by Union County and Doug Davis, with food provided by Village Tavern, Sweet Basils, Saffron, Villa Rosa, BBQ Joes and Roly Poly. The live auction includes original pieces from artists such as Tracey Marshall, Gino Didio and Dawn Ashby, and the silent auction will include jewelry, gift items and certificates, as well as art by special needs children at Jesse Wharton Elementary, Gateway Education Center and Northern Middle School. Approximately 75 to 100 artists have donated items for the auctions. There also will be restaurant gift certificate and gift basket raffles.

“We’re hoping for great attendance and a fun-filled night,” Bunch said. “Our community’s contributions will help ensure that special needs students in Guilford County have the tools they need to experience a bright and promising future.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown @news-record.com.