Exciting Silent Auction Experiences And Items Highlight 2018 Bird Bash

NORMAL, Ill. – Every year, passionate Redbird fans gather together to raise funds for the Illinois State women's athletics programs at the 'Bird Bash', which will be held Thursday, April 26, inside Redbird Arena.

New to the event this year is online silent auction bidding and an expanded bidding timeline.  Guests will go to a website to bid on over 120 silent auction items in categories that include: 'Experiences and Outings', 'Food and Dining', "Redbirds & Sports', 'Health and Beauty' and 'Home, Office, Yard'. Silent auction bidding will open on April 23 at 8 a.m. and close on April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Three travel packages are highlighted among those silent auction items, including a Punta Cana Getaway to the Dominican Republic and a Las Vegas stay with airfare presented by Direct Travel. A Sheraton Desert Oasis stay in Scottsdale, Arizona, was also donated by a proud Redbird alum. 

Experiences & Outings excursions include local day trips, Cubs and White Sox packages, travel to the Quad Cities, St. Louis and Chicago, as well as both MVC men's and women's basketball tournaments. Food and dining items include certificates to many local favorites, as well as wine and chocolate baskets. One-of-a-kind Redbird items and behind the scenes opportunities are highlighted in the 'Redbirds & Sports' section, such as a trip for two to travel with Coach Spack and the football team to Colorado State game in September 2018 (includes hotel and meals), team jerseys available only at the Bird Bash and an opportunity to be featured on the Redbird video board during a men's basketball game.  

The event is open to the public and presented by the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund and Illinois State Athletics. It recognizes and celebrates the hard work and dedication of Redbird women student-athletes and raises funds to support their efforts. Since 2006, the annual fundraising event has raised over $390,000 for ISU women's athletics programs.

Registration begins at 6 p.m., with cocktails by Sodexo, hors d'oeuvres provided by Moe's Southwest Grill, and a silent auction presented by Advocate BroMenn Medical Center to follow. A formal program will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the silent auction winners will then be announced at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $60 per person and the purchase of a full table is available. Guests who cannot attend can still participate in the mobile silent auction with a $60 donation. To sign up or donate, click HERE

To register for the event, log onto GoRedbirds.com/promotions and use the promo code BirdBash. For more information, contact Marianne Riddell by phone at (309) 438-5455 or by email at mriddell@ilstu.edu.

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.