WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- For the 14th consecutive year, University of Central Missouri Athletics will host "Celebrating Central Missouri Athletics", a combination auction/dinner to kick off a new season and raise funds in support of UCM's 17 intercollegiate athletic programs. The event will be held the evening of Friday, August 15 at the UCM Multipurpose Building.

The auction is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, August 15. Participants can enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and bid on silent auction items from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A wonderful buffet dinner will be served from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and from 8:00-10:00 p.m. there will be a live auction of donated items. Items in both the live and silent auction will range from official UCM athletic gear to sports memorabilia, vacations, golf outings, and household items.

The event is open to the public. The cost, which includes the dinner and the chance to bid at both the silent and live auction, is $62.50 per person or a table of eight people can be purchased for $500. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the items and pre-register to avoid lines on auction night at the Auction Preview on Thursday, August 14 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. You may also register online at www.UCMathletics.com/auction.

The auction will include hundreds of items in the silent auction, including UCM gear, sporting event tickets and memorabilia. The live auction will include such items as a dream golf vacation to the Floridian National Golf Club, trips to football and basketball suites at Missouri Tiger games, a 50 yard-line suite for 16 people in St. Louis at the Rams/Cowboys game during the regular season, condo stays at several resort locations, regional vacations, as well as radio advertising and much more. UCM Athletic Hall-of-Famers "The Nigro Brothers" will provide the auctioneering.

Attendees will enjoy a fabulous meal prepared by Chef Dale McDonald and the staff of Sodexo Campus Services. The hors d'oeuvres will consist of shrimp cocktail shooters, gourmet cheese, smoked meats and fruit. The dinner will feature summer greens with dried cranberries, Fuji apples and shaved asiago with raspberry vinaigrette or house ranch, carved Traeger smoked prime rib, Traeger smoked maple glazed turkey breast, smashed baby red potatoes, fresh baby carrots with brown sugar glaze, fresh asparagus lemon dressing with shaved asiago. Dessert will feature a gourmet cupcake display, assorted mini pies and tarts and ice cream bars from DQ Grill and Chill.

To register for the auction/dinner, please contact Athletic Ticket & Development Operations Coordinator Emily Moses at 660-543-8339 or visit UCMAthletics.com/auction. To donate an item, please contact Athletics Development Officer Michelle Schubert at 660-543-8396 or schubert@ucmo.edu. Persons who donate items in excess of $1,000 value will receive a free table for eight. For a copy of the auction brochure, visit UCMathletics.com.

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