Faculty and students at the School of Medicine, as well as local businesses, have contributed an array of items that will be auctioned Friday, Nov. 21, during the school's fifth annual Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Benefit Auction. Proceeds from the event will benefit homeless shelters and food banks in New Haven.
The event is cosponsored by the Medical School Committee Overseeing Volunteer Services, the Office of Education and Student Affairs, Ben & Jerry's, PhyCor Inc., Baxter International, Inc. and The Wine Thief.
Both a live and a silent auction will be held noon-2 p.m. in the Mary S. Harkness Auditorium of Sterling Hall of Medicine, 333 Cedar St. The event is free and open to the Yale community.
Among the auction items are:
* An after-hours tour of the Oval Office and lunch with U.S. Representative Henry Waxman, which was donated by Dr. David A. Kessler, dean of the School of Medicine;
* an airplane tour of New Haven from pilot Dr. Phillip Brewer, assistant professor of surgery;
* a bottle of wine worth more than $500; and
* artwork, massages, babysitting services and gift certificates to local restaurants.
Students will donate proceeds to six groups including Life Haven, FISH of Greater New Haven, Loaves and Fishes, Rachel's Table, the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen and the Community Health Care Van. Last year, students raised more than $10,000 and donated the money to 22 charitable organizations in the city.
"Thanksgiving is a time to think of the excesses we have and what others lack," says Dr. Robert H. Gifford, associate dean of education and student affairs at the medical school. "This event is a chance to try to even things out a little bit."