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Purple and Gold Gala 2023 700.4853
Sarah Ritter

34th Annual Purple and Gold Gala a Success

| By: WIU Athletic Communications
Gallery: (8-14-2023) 2023 Purple and Gold Gala

When the books closed on the 34th Annual Purple and Gold Gala for the Western Illinois University Athletics Department, it went down as one of the most successful evenings in the event's long history. While some final gifts are being processed, gross receipts for the evening topped $82,000 from the August 12th event.

The Gala returned to the University Union with 333 guests attending. While no formal theme is associated with the event, all attendees were encouraged to wear their favorite sneakers, which included many in purple, a few in gold, and even a pair with roller skates as fashioned by women's head basketball coach J.D. Gravina.
 
The evening began with a silent auction and reception in the Brattain Lounge at 5 p.m.  In addition to over 125 silent auction items, guests had the opportunity to purchase a ticket for one of two $500 cash drawings. The event once again featured a variety of food stations instead of a formal dinner. The silent auction closed at 6:45 p.m. as guests gathered to hear from Director of Athletics Paul A. Bubb and former standout student-athlete Victoria Kappel. Lowderman Auction Company conducted the live auction which featured trips with athletic teams, unique dining opportunities, vacation trips, autographed memorabilia and a highly prized duck hunting trip.

"I certainly felt a lot of positive energy in the room on Saturday night," Bubb said. "I believe the excitement of going into the Ohio Valley Conference, the strong support for our athletic teams, and people coming out to support a good cause all led to a great evening."

The online, silent, and live auctions generated over $68,000, including a special "Fund A Need" which raised $9,650 for the Leatherneck Cheer, Dance, and Bands that perform at Leatherneck home games.

In addition to the silent and live auctions held on Saturday, fans had the opportunity to bid on a number of items via an online auction for the five days leading up to Saturday's event.
 
For more information, visit the official Purple & Gold Auction website. All proceeds from the 34th Annual Purple & Gold Auction will enhance the Division I experience of Leatherneck student-athletes.
 
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