Helluva Auction, Party Set for Homecoming

Going once ... tickets to the US Open finals and a behind-the-scenes experience with the cast of “Treme.” Going twice ... dinner with Scott and Margie Cowen and Olivia and Archie Manning, and a chance to sit in Rita Benson's suite at a Saints home game. The ninth annual Helluva Hullabaloo Auction and Party kicks off on Friday (Oct. 8) as part of homecoming festivities.

All proceeds from the auction directly support Tulane student-athletes.

The auction, at 6:30 p.m. in the Lavin-Bernick Center on the uptown campus, also will offer private dinners with chefs, a New Orleans tour by James Carville and lunch with Mary Matalin, a trip and three-night stay for two to watch the Tulane football team play in Hawaii, sports memorabilia and more.

New Orleans broadcast journalist Lee Zurik will be the auctioneer. In addition, raffle tickets are being sold for a chance to win two tickets to the Super Bowl.

The online auction, hosted by CharityBuzz, opens today (Oct. 5) at 8 a.m. CDT and continues through Oct. 26, offering items such as a Sugar Bowl VIP experience for four; a trip with accommodations for four to Atlanta to see the Saints vs. Falcons; a Formula One Mercedes racing team tour; a private suite for 12 in Turchin Stadium for a Tulane baseball game; trips to Las Vegas, Mexico and Sonoma, Calif.; a Jonas Brothers meet-and-greet; Miami Heat and Los Angeles Dodgers tickets and more.

“Last year we raised $250,000. This year we are very optimistic we will generate even more support for our student-athletes,” said athletics director Rick Dickson.

The Hullabaloo auction is chaired by Jill and Avie Glazer, who are current Tulane parents, Betsy and Gary Laborde and Maria and Andy Wisdom. Jill Glazer, a 1985 alumna of Newcomb College, and Andy Wisdom, who graduated in 1994 from Tulane law School, are members of the Board of Tulane.

View the complete list of auction items and register on the auction website or call 504-862-8442. Tickets are $50 and the event is open to all.