The Ed & Irene Fleis Education auction fundraiser which concluded last week was up about 20% from a year ago.
“We exceeded expectations,” said Larry Fleis, board member and chair of the 2024 online auction. “We are most thankful.”
“Thank you goes out to the community for some great auction items and other donations,” said Ted Fleis, board president and one of 12 Fleis siblings who started the fund in memory his mother and dad. “It was so nice to see many new bidders.”
The most sought-after items were the Detroit Lions tickets and travel items, a trip to Portugal, Wyndham time share and one week in a cottage on Lake Leelanau.
“We also received many gift certificates from the local Leelanau County businesses that really helped this year’s auction and will help us grow the fund,” Ted Fleis added.
The online auction final hours were streamlined on Nov. 24. The auction was started four years ago to replace the fund’s dinner dance benefit which was canceled due to COVID-19. The other fundraiser, a golf outing was held earlier this year.
“It is so much fun to watch the final bids as the clock ticked off to end the bidding,” said Noreen Savage, a Fleis sibling, board member and part of the live streaming.
Since 2006, the Ed and Irene Fleis Education Fund has distributed $757,000 in scholarships to 326 students in Leelanau County or with Leelanau lineage. In 2024, $90,000 was distributed. The Foundation’s mission has been to help students in financial need to obtain a higher education through attending a college, university, or trade school.
Anyone who missed the auction but would like to support the Fleis Education Fund can make a donation on the website www.fleiseducationfund.org.
