Proceeds from Auction benefit Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of PA



Participants in the 2014 Pennsylvania Dairy Summit stepped up to raise nearly $10,000 during a live and silent auction held as part of the summit to support the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania. The funds raised will go directly to support youth education and other initiatives funded by the center foundation.

"This auction has become a tremendous fundraising opportunity for our foundation, and we are grateful for those who supported it by donating and bidding on the items," said Emily Yeiser, dairy initiatives manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence. "We were also extremely appreciative of the support we received from the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, which took the auction to an entirely new level."

The live auction was held as part of the Wednesday evening activities at the summit, with five items being auctioned off in front of a crowd of about 300 people. Pennsylvania State Representative Mark Keller from Perry County served as the auctioneer for the event. The two highest selling items of the evening included an autographed NFL jersey signed by Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and donated by the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and a two-night "Gateway to the Poconos Cottage" Getaway, donated by Danadee Miller. John Baker purchased the jersey, while Chad Reinford purchased the Poconos getaway.

In addition to the five items auctioned off, the live auction also included a "Sponsor a Student" drive to encourage participants to give $50 to support one student in the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program. More than $2,500 was committed to this effort by participants in the summit, with the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania matching the entire $2,500 as part of their 2014 commitment to the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania to provide $5,000 in direct support and another $5,000 in matching support.

Sixteen items were included in the silent auction, with bidding opened during the entire two-day period. Winning bidders were announced at the closing of the summit. Below is a list of all those individuals and organizations that donated and/or bided on items.


  • Aaron Kimmich
  • Alan Novak
  • Bonnie Mohr Studios
  • Bear Mountain Lodge
  • Brandon Weary
  • Calkins Creamery
  • Caroline Novak
  • Chad Reinford
  • Christian Landis
  • Dale and Carol Hoffman
  • Dandadee Miller-Boyle
  • David Lytle
  • Deb Cornman Studios
  • Dina Zug
  • Emily Yeiser
  • Erick Coolidge
  • Frank Allnut
  • Giant Foods, Inc.
  • Glen and Robin Gorrell
  • Helms Briscoe
  • Hershey Foods
  • Jayne Sebright
  • Jeff Barnes
  • Jeanmarie Kline
  • Jim Meade
  • John and Kathy Frey
  • John Baker
  • John Castrogrovanni
  • John Hess
  • Karen Purnell
  • Keith England
  • Kenny Nearhoof
  • Lancaster Marriott
  • Lisa Holden
  • Lolly Lesher
  • Lowell Fry
  • Marilyn Hershey
  • Mark McCullogh
  • Mark Armfelt
  • Mary Schmidt
  • Melissa Anderson
  • Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association & PA Dairy Promotion Program
  • PA Dutch Convention and Visitor's Bureau
  • Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania
  • Rob & Chris Waddell
  • Robert Waddell
  • State College Spikes Baseball Team
  • Spots Pride Farm
  • Tamara Smith
  • Terry Martin
  • Timothy and Deborah Kurtz
  • Tony Brubaker
  • Vinton Smith
  • Willow Behrer Farms, LLC
  • Zoetis, Inc.


The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania was established in 2010 as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization to support educational initiatives that grow and sustain the Pennsylvania dairy industry. The center foundation provides the opportunity for individuals and organizations to make tax-deductible contributions to support educational initiatives within Pennsylvania's dairy industry.

The center foundation was created to allow individuals and corporations to make a lasting impact on the future of Pennsylvania's dairy industry and its individual dairy farm families. Priorities for the center foundation include youth development, continuing education, consumer outreach and market development.

Media contact: Jayne Sebright, 717-259-6496; jsebright@centerfordairyexcellence.org
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2.25.2014