The 16th annual Kids Auction & World's Greatest BBQ held Saturday at Mills Park raised $175,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, said Hal Hansen, the club's chief professional officer, Wednesday.
"While it did not meet our budgeted goal, the board is very pleased with this total given the local economy," Hansen said. "This is our single special event fundraiser and it is critical to our operating funds."
Hansen said the event was made possible by its sponsors, Bodine's Casino, Carson Station Casino, Red's Old 395 and L & L Hawaiian BBQ and also by the dozens of volunteers who worked the event and the businesses that donated items for the auctions. Among the auction items was the right to name a race horse owned by Bodine's owner Mike Pegram and trained by winning race horse trainer Bob Baffert. Jean Russell, wife of Carson Station owner Clark Russell, made the winning bid of $4,100.
The non-profit club serves an estimated 1,800 children annually through afterschool and summer programs.