USOEC Dream Club Sports Dinner Auction

The USOEC will be hosting a Sports Dinner Auction on Wednesday, April 25 in the Great Lakes Rooms on the campus of Northern Michigan University.  The Sports Dinner Auction will be the "grand finale" of Olympic month.

The event will be a sports theme dinner (casual dress) which will include a live auction, a silent auction, raffle drawings, door prizes, a cash bar and live music. The purpose of the Sport Dinner Auction is to raise scholarship monies for USOEC athletes.  See the auction items below.  Items are added daily.

Cost
Individual tickets can be purchased for $50.  Group sales of entire tables are available. Only 350 tickets will be available for the event, so purchase your tickets early!  Tickets are available at the USOEC Office in the Superior Dome (stop in or call 906-227-2888) and at the Lake Superior Community Partnership, 501 S. Front Street, Marquette.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsors who donate merchandise and/or services for the Sports Dinner Auction will receive recognition for their contribution to the event. There are three sponsorship levels: "Gold" sponsorship -  a $1,500 contribution includes eight free dinner tickets; "Silver" sponsorship - a $1,000 contribution includes four free dinner tickets; and "Bronze" sponsorship -  a $500 contribution includes 2 free dinner tickets.  Donated items are eligible for a tax deduction for the value of the gift.  Other benefits include:

• USOEC website recognition

• Print recognition in the Marquette Mining Journal

• Event signage

• Program recognition

• Athlete appearances during Olympic month (April 2007)

• Recognition on WLUC-TV6 promotional advertising for the event.

Auction items available as of February 21, 2007

Heisman Trophy winner, Matt Leinart, game-used Arizona Cardinal autographed football helmet - donated by Cardinal coach Rick Courtright.

Four tickets to the Food City 250 NASCAR race at the Bristol Motor Speedway, the world's fastest half-mile in the birth place of country music Bristol, Tennessee - donated by Bruton Smith.

Detroit Tiger center fielder Curtis Granderson autographed baseball - donated by the Detroit Tigers.

2006 Green Bay Packer autographed football signed by the entire team and the coaching staff - donated by the Green Bay Packers.

San Jose Sharks center and left wing, Patrick Rissmiller autographed hockey puck - donated by the San Jose Sharks.

Pittsburgh Steeler receiver and Super Bowl XL  MVP Hines Ward autographed picture and a Steeler license plate - donated by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2006 NFC South Divisional Champions New Orlean Saints' ball cap and team t-shirt - donated by the New Orlean Saints.

San Francisco 49er, No. 1 draft choice - 22nd overall, LB Manny Lawson autographed football with 49er logo - donated by the San Francisco 49ers.

Briggs Stadium/Tiger Stadium Club seat backs with Tiger "D" logo. Each seat back is framed.  Two  of these rare collectibles are available - donated by Mike Ettenhofer.

Chi Chi Rodriquez, PGA golfer autographed memorabilia - donated by Chi Chi Rodriquez.

Autographed 8 x 10 photo of Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko.  The 6'9" forward is averaging 9.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg and slated to make the 2007 NBA All-Star Game - donated by the Utah Jazz.

Five course dinner for six people in the Sky Room of the historic Landmark Inn in Marquette - donated by the Landmark Inn.

Limited edition collectable (293/750) handcrafted by designer/sculptor Richard Jerel made for the Ellen DeGeneres show - donated by WLUC-TV6.

Boston Bruins center, Patrick Bergeron autographed hockey puck.  Bergeron, a member of the Canadian Olympic hockey team in 2006 is the youngest player in Bruin history to score 30 goals - donated by the Boston Bruins.

Steve Yzerman autographed hockey puck. Yzerman was a three-time Stanley Cup champion and served as team captain for the Red Wings for 20 seasons - donated by the Detroit Red Wings.

Autographed football from former NFL head coach (San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions) Steve Mariucci - donated by Mike Duroe, head wrestling coach Cornell College (IA).

Autographed basketball signed by NCAA I National Championship coach, Tom Izzo of Michigan State University - donated by Mike Duroe, head wrestling coach Cornell College (IA).

Tampa Bay Lightning center, Ryan Craig autographed game sweater - donated by the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning.

Autographed 8x10 photo of Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman.  J.P. began his third season as the starting QB after spending the majority of the 2005 season as a starter.  Losman was a first round draft choice in 2004, with the 22nd overall selection - donated by the Buffalo Bills.

Autographed 8x10 photo of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans.  The first round draft pick, 13th overall out of Wisconsin pulled down 82 receptions for 1292 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2006 - donated by the Buffalo Bills.

New York Yankee ball cap and blue Yankee  polo shirt (XL) - donated by the New York Yankee Foundation, Inc.

2006 AFC West Divisional Champions, San Diego Charger quarterback, Philip Rivers autographed football with Charger logo - donated by the San Diego Chargers.

Two tickets to the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge on Saturday night, May 19th at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The seats are in the Diamond Tower, row 54, seats 11-12.  Only the top drivers are eligible for this slobberknocker - with the winner guaranteed at least $1 million, sparks are sure to fly! Go "Where Racing Lives" - donated by Lowe's Motor Speedway. Trip includes two, $500 ticket vouchers for airfare to Charlotte, NC for the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge - donated by Sawyer International Airport.

$100 gift card to the Casa Calabaria.  The Casa has become known for its most popular menu item, lasagna, its famous meat sauce, and a varied assortment of steak and chicken dishes - and their baked daily garlic bread!  Casa is a proud sponsor of the USOEC!

Cincinnati Reds road baseball cap by New Era.  Fitted authentic Major League Baseball cap, size 7 5/8, 61 cm - donated by the Reds.