Hartford Instrumental Parents Auction Off Football

The Hartford Instrumental Parents attempted to auction off a signed Packer football online after a canceled fundraiser that was supposed to occur last spring, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hartford Instrumental Parents Facebook page put a Packers football up for auction that had been signed by many Packer players. The auction started on Friday Dec. 12 at 8 a.m. and went through to Monday Dec. 14. The bidding for the ball began at $50 and had to increase by increments of $5. Bidders were to place their bids in a Facebook post put out by the Hartford Instrumental Parents.

“The idea and agreement from the board came to us and we thought we could hold it before Christmas in the event someone wanted a gift,” Hartford Instrumental Parents president Patty Fulop said.

The post was put up on Facebook with short notice and throughout the auction period no one had placed a bid.

“Since it is our first time trying an online auction, I cannot guess why it did not sell,” publicity board member Michelle Yu said. “Whether it was due to the economy, the lack of publicity or lack of interest in an item from the 2019 team, I cannot speculate.”

The football was requested from the Packer Organization last winter as it was going to be a part of a large community fundraiser in that coming spring. The fundraiser was cancelled due to COVID and would have been held last May.

It would have been the FanFare at Folksong Farm fundraiser with a catered dinner along with other fundraising activities such as basket raffles. This dinner event was also to feature Andy Hacker’s German band, Blaskapelle Milwaukee.

“We were hoping to start an annual event that would help offset student costs for future band/orchestra trips, as well as continue to supplement our scholarship program,” Fulop said.

Fulop also said the Hartford Instrumental Parents were looking to run bigger events rather than small events like brat frys and selling products. Even though the FanFare at Folksong Farm fundraiser was cancelled, it is still in discussion, but they are still unsure.

“An event like this needs time and hands to put it together, so it is hard to guess where things will be five to six months from now,” Fulop said.