LAWTON — United Way of Southwest Oklahoma is changing its fundraising plans this year.
The organization is hosting an online auction instead of its annual Blue Tie Gala. The auction opened Wednesday, Oct. 6, and will close at midnight Wednesday, Oct. 13.
All proceeds from the auction will go to support the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign, the organization said in a news release. The organization supports 19 local nonprofit social service agencies in southwest Oklahoma.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the United Way to rethink its plans for 2021, President and CEO Lauren Ellis said in the news release.
“Our live and silent auctions have traditionally been great revenue drivers during our annual Gala, so we asked ourselves what could we do to try and recoup some of the revenue we so greatly rely on,” she said. “It became very clear that having an online auction was the path forward.”
Ellis said an online auction will help the United Way reach a broader audience and create a larger platform for highlighting donors’ generosity.
The auction may be previewed for bidding at www.charityauction.bid/UWSWOK.
To learn more about the United Way and its mission, visit www.uwswok.org or call Roxanne at (580) 355-0218.