Almost $18,000 raised during Derry High School's annual Bachelor Auction

Dressed in tuxedos and waiting for their bid, 19 junior and senior boys at Derry Area High School participated in the 2019 Bachelor Auction, raising almost $18,000 for charity.

The annual event is hosted by the school’s Interact Club, a student organization based on community service. Up to 20 junior and senior boys are put up for auction to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

People in ninth grade through the age of 21 bid in the auction, held March 16.

This year, senior Dominic DeLuca was auctioned off for the highest amount: $1,675.

“It was a great time,” DeLuca said. “Everybody does a lot of work to make it special.”

Starting in January, students on the Bachelor Auction committee work to pick a theme, make decorations, nominate the bachelors and market the event.

This years theme, Star Boys, took about two months to bring together, said Debbie Bushey, Interact advisor.

She noted that decorations can’t be bought, and that they all must be made out of cardboard, paint, glue or tape.

Bachelors are required to dance twice at the event, and a Make-A-Wish liaison gives a speech.

“Last year, the Make-A-Wish liaison said she could not believe what she saw and what was put on by high school kids,” Bushey said.

Gia DeCario, a senior on the Bachelor Auction committee, has spent four years working on the fundraiser.

With her sister serving on the committee in the past and her brother a former bachelor, DeCario knew the amount of work it would take to put on the event. But she said it was something she always looked forward to doing when she got to high school.

“I will miss it dearly because the Bachelor Auction is just so much fun,” she said.

For Kylie Sliva, president of the Interact Club, being a part of the Bachelor Auction was something she’s wanted to do since her friends attended the event in middle school. Sliva, along with club vice president Kamryn Kelly, both had sisters involved in the club.

Bushey’s son, Aidan, said he’s used to being in front of people when he plays basketball, but he was anxious for the Bachelor Auction to get started.

“Once we got out there, it was pretty fun dancing with all my friends,” the junior said.