For the 30th year in a row thousands of dollars to benefit a local agency whose mission is to fight child abuse were collected in the largest event of its kind in the area. Saturday the annual Child Advocacy and Parenting Services, or CAPS, benefit auction was held.

The CAPS auction has traditionally been the biggest celebrity and sports memorabilia event of its kind in the area. Though it still has star power, the event has evolved into focusing just as much on donated local  items this year, things like concert and sports tickets, trips, group dinners,  and locally donated goods and services,

The bidding was fast and furious, with some items selling for a few dollars and others for thousands of dollars.

CAPS Executive Director Lori Blake told KSAL News that items bringing in the most money included:

• Estes Park Trip
• Kansas State University Skybox Tickets
• Basketball Autographed by Entire University of Kansas Team
• Soil Survey For 160 Acres
• Soundtrack of “The Sting” Autographed by Paul Newman and Robert Redford

Blake said preliminary numbers indicate over $57,000 was collected at the event. That number will be higher in a couple of days when all proceeds, including other donations and digital transactions, are tabulated.

The benefit auction is the single largest fund-raising event of the year for CAPS. It funds about one tenth of the organization’s yearly budget and is a cash match for many state grants the organization depends on.

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