Last week, the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Charity Auction brought students and professors together for the what has already become one of the most beloved Smith School programs. Members of the Smith family contributed auction items, such as dinner at the home a handful of professors, before the fierce (but friendly) bidding war begins in the name of goodwill and charity.
The auction (which started in 2013 and is hosted by the Smith MBA Association) raises money for Special Olympics Maryland – Prince George’s County. According to a press release on the university’s website, in the auction’s first year, MBA bidders raised $8,000 and a Smith delegation presented the check at the 2013 Fuqua MBA Games. In 2014, organizers set the fundraising goal even higher, raising more than $13,000 and winning the Fuqua games prize for the largest charitable gift.
The Charity Auction included both a silent and live auction with auction items including evenings hosted by:
- Charles Olsen, professor of practice and director of the Business Honors Program
- Michael Faulkender, associate professor and director of the Masters Program in Finance
- David Godes, associate professor of marketing
- Shreevardhan Lele, assistant dean of academic affairs, MBA Programs and clinical professor
- Neta Moye, clinical professor of management
- Paulo Prochno, clinical professor
- Alex Triantis, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business