GDB Surpasses Scholarship Goal

The Gentle Doctor Benefit, an annual dinner and auction designed to fund scholarships for students at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, this year surpassed its goal of a $100,000 endowment.

2005 Gentle Doctor Benefit.

The 18th annual event, held in April, was a tremendous success, raising more than $40,000 for student scholarships, says Lisa Jones, special events coordinator for the college. This year's event was highlighted by two live auctions and two silent auctions with items divided into themes such as sports-related and veterinary medical-related. It was held in the Hearnes Center Field House.

Money is raised through auction item sales, individual sponsorships, and corporate sponsorships. The 2005 Gentle Doctor Benefit had six Gold Sponsors who each donated a minimum of $1,500 and 15 Silver Sponsors who each donated a minimum of $1,000. This year was the first year that Gold Sponsorships were offered.

Auction items are donated by either individuals or corporations. Past auctions have featured Frederick Remington sculptures, vacations, medical supplies, toys, stuffed animals, a four-poster bed, furniture, veterinary services, household goods, airplane rides, and breeding services.

The Gentle Doctor Benefit auction began in the early 1980s to help fund a portion of the $20 million Clydesdale Hall, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Medical Teaching Hospital. A group of parents organized a Parents’ Committee to help secure the 20 percent of construction cost that was the college’s responsibility.

The first auction attracted almost 300 people and had a gross income of $46,900. After expenses, $21,400 went toward construction of the building. The tenth auction saw the retirement of the Clydesdale Hall obligation, allowing subsequent proceeds to go to scholarships.

Future auctions will help bolster the scholarship trust fund, providing more assistance to financially needy students.

The chairperson of the 2004 GDB Advisory Board was Dr. Burton Schauf, owner of Pet Center Ltd. in Columbia, Mo. Dr. Shauf was also on the board of the independent, not-for-profit organization Friends of Veterinary Medicine (formerly the sponsoring organization of the GDB).

Event organizers are already accepting auction items and seeking corporate sponsorships for the 2006 Gentle Doctor Benefit. For details, contact:

Lisa Jones
Special events coordinator
W211 Veterinary Medicine Building
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri
Columbia, Mo. 65211.

Phone: 1-888-850-2357

The 2006 Gentle Doctor Benefit is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, 2006. For more information, see the web page at: www.gentledoctorbenefit.org.

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