The Palmyra Foundation announced today that its annual Online Charity Auction Party” on Friday April 11 raised nearly US$30,000 (JM$3.27M) towards this year’s “Books4Kids Jamaica” campaign.

The evening at BlueBeat Ultra Lounge in Montego Bay was full of activity, fun and good vibrations as patrons bid on the many auction items on iPads and at computer stations. All the while keeping an eager eye on their coveted items displayed on large screens, showing the bids come-in real time. Many bidders picked up fabulous deals on luxury vacation stays, travel, meals at local restaurants, art and wellness treatments, while supporting the cause.

Among the hot items to be sold off on the virtual auction block were a Fender guitar signed by all the members of U2 which went for US$2,150, Delta Business Class tickets which sold for US$1,750, a Ronaldo autographed Real Madrid shirt US$375, a Colorado ski vacation stay for eight people that sold for US$3,250, a weekend for two at New York’s luxurious Manhattan Experience that sold for US$2,885.

Some persons opted instead to donate money for books to particular schools in parishes of their choice. With the night closing at nearly US$30,000 (J$3.27M) the ”Auction Party” took the Foundation closer to its goal of being able to supply textbooks for 7,000 infant school children for the 2014 school year.

 While more than 100 companies donated items to the Online Charity Auction, this year’s “Live Auction Party” was sponsored by Island Entertainment Brands, Delta Airlines, JetBlue, Frame by Frame, Iberostar Hotel, Resort Condominiums International (RCI), Silverpoint Hotels & Resorts.

Program sponsors for the ‘Books4Kids Jamaica’ initiative are Jamaica Tours Ltd, Seaboard Marine, Landmark Associates and Resort Properties Jamaica.

The 2014 ‘Books4Kids Jamaica’ program aims to raise money to buy books, pencils and crayons for 7,000 Kindergarten children in September 2014. Please help us raise money by making cash donations online at www.thepalmyrafoundation.com