P.E.O. Chapter BR holds purse auction for scholarships 102718

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Pam Webber, president of Silver City P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education organization) Chapter BR, moderated the event. "We are doing the purse auction this year, but our sister chapter in Silver City, Chapter AG, is helping us. We are again raising money for scholarships, including the Nancy Champlin Scholarship, which is named after Nancy, even though she has moved away. But she's here from Albuquerque with us today."

Webber said the Nancy Champlin scholarship is for a local girl for a college education. "We also have a PCE (Program for Continuing Education) scholarship. This year our recipient was Kendall Gibson. The scholarship supports a career change. Kendall was a dental hygienist, then a stay-at-home mom, and now she is studying to be a pre-school teacher. She is one class away from an Associate's degree and takes online courses at Western New Mexico University."

The auctioneer every year has been Dana Stout, who, as Webber said, "makes it such a fun event. She donates her auctioneering time to help us raise money for the scholarships. This is her seventh year."

The group, by selling 100 purses at auction, numerous other purses at set prices, and tables full of silent auction items raised more than $8,000 for one afternoon's event.