Purses with Purpose takes a nice purse for charity

Jessica Lowe, marketing and membership director of the YMCA, is thankful that her organization got to team up with the Speedway Foundation this year.

“We were very fortunate that Debb (Debra Smith, Director of the Iowa Speedway Foundation) and the Iowa Speedway Foundation asked the YMCA to be a part of it this year,” said Lowe. “Last year they helped another non-profit and they chose the Y this year. 50 percent goes to the speedway foundation and 50 percent goes to the Y. We are very excited about it.”

The crowd also seemed to be excited. Last year’s event pre-sold 80 tickets; this year’s event pre-sold over 100 tickets and even more at the door. There were even the dueling piano stylings of Andy Anderson and Mike Leeds, who battled not only with their instruments but with vocals as well.

The auction had over 66 items, all of which were donated to the event by local companies, citizens and, organizations. There was also a raffle and the grand prize was a Kate Spade purse valued at over $250.

A silent auction from 6 to 8 p.m. kicked off the evening at the Newton Club at Iowa Speedway. At 8:15 p.m., the live auction began, and the dueling pianists capped off the evening until 9 p.m. The event also featured a variety of appetizers and a bar.

Melissa Handy attended the event and was heavily eyeing some of the items presented on the tables.

“To help raise money,” was Handy’s reply as to why she came to the event. “And I love bags. Who doesn’t love a purse?”

While the name “Purses with Purpose” may be misleading, the event had plenty of items for both sexes. Outdoors Without Boundaries donated hunting supplies, Mark Allen of Edward Jones, donated a Callaway “Daytripper Sandbag” and an assortment of Edward Jones related goodies, and Bass Pro Shops donated what they called “Bass Pro Shops Ultimate Murse.” The “murse” contained Bass Pro Shops coozies and bottle suits, several kinds of beef jerky, hot sauces and several large tins of assorted nuts.