The Dream Team Project will be holding its fourth charity auction at Fred Block's MagicMeets Disney Fan Gathering. There will be a large assortment of Disney merchandise, collectibles, pins, art, hand-crafted items, and special experiences among the offerings available for bidding.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America via Firstgiving.com.

This year's auction features a wide variety of items, including some very special ones that will be of great interest to the Disney fan. For the first time, the auction will have for bid two Sericels, highly prized by collectors. Sericels are reproduced in limited editions by hand from the original camera-ready animation stills, and carry the Walt Disney Company seal of authenticity. One of the two Sericels being offered at the auction is from the short cartoon "On Ice" featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This Sericel is extra-special, because it is signed by legendary Disney Imagineer Marc Davis. The second Sericel is entitled "Around the 'World' With the Fabulous Five" and features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. It was produced to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort, and is highly sought after by collectors.

There will be many other exciting pieces of artwork available to bid on as well. Artist Larry Dotson, known for his "Vacation Memories" series of paintings of favorite sights around Walt Disney World, has donated 5 of his 16" x 20" prints to be auctioned off. Tim Devine of The Magic in Pixels has also contributed a one-of-a-kind framed photo, one that will never be available for sale anywhere. Also available for bidding will be specially framed prints from photographers Scott Thomas and Chuck Lionberger, and artist Sandy MacGowan.

Another new and unique lot being offered this year is a "Minnie & Me" Dress Set by BetterWithABow.com. This set includes a child's dress created for the auction winner in their size of choice (6 months - 8 years) and a matching doll dress for 15" - 18" dolls. The dresses, custom created for The Dream Team Project Auction, feature hand cut and appliquéd Minnie silhouettes and fabrics inspired by the famous Ms. Mouse. Any little girl is sure to make magical memories while wearing this dress!

Disney pin collectors will find a number of exciting pins and pin-related lots at the auction. A pair of very limited edition pieces - only 12 of each were ever produced! - were donated by James and Linda Dezern. These framed pin sets from the "Spectacle of Pins" event feature the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, seen annually in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Other pin lots include characters ranging from Mickey and the gang to Jack Skellington and friends to Luke Skywalker and company, as well as everyone's favorite genetic experiment 626, a.k.a. Stitch.

Crafters will find several lots featuring Disney craft supplies, donated by Scrapping the Magic. Other theme baskets feature home, garden, travel, or kid themes. There is something for everyone.

Additionally, some special experiences will be on the auction tables. Opportunities for Dinner with Deb Wills, a personal Hidden Mickeys Tour with Steve Barrett, and an exclusive DSI (Disney Scene Investigation) with Lou Mongello are just a few of the unique items that will be available this year.

Only those attending MagicMeets in Camp Hill will be able to bid on the auction items. Cash, PayPal, and credit cards via Firstgiving.com will be accepted for payment.

Previews of this year's auction items are now posting in The Dream Team Project Blog!

Learn more about Fred Block's MagicMeets Disney Fan Gatherings

Some photos accompanying this article are from the 2008 auction and do not represent merchandise available in 2009.

2008 Auction and Related Fundraising

Raised $20,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America

from The Dream Team Project blog, a post by Pat W.

Wow!
Okay, I say that a lot, but what else do you say to $20,000.00??
Yeah.
That's $20K. 20 Grand (Isn't that a candy bar?). Twenty Thousand Dollars.
All for Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America via firstgiving.com. All thanks to the generous people in the Disney Online Community. All of you.

Read the entire blog post here

Beci Mahnken of Mouse Fan / MEI Travel congratulates Lou Mongello after the 2008 Auction total is announced, as Fred Block looks on.

More Ways to Help Some Great Causes in 2009

The Dream Team Project Auction isn't the only way MagicMeets attendees can help bring a little magic to those in need. Check out these other great ways to make a difference:

Celebrity MagicTunes
Friday night, August 7th, MagicMeets will hold Celebrity MagicTunes, a fun game show that challenges some of our Disney community "stars" to name that MagicTune! There is a minimum $5 donation at the door for event admission, and all proceeds will benefit both Deb Wills' Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and The Dream Team Project.

Magic ‘Meets' Arooga's Karaoke Meet
Arooga's is the new restaurant next door to the Radisson Penn Harris, home of MagicMeets. And for some more Friday night Fun, it's a Karaoke Meet! A $5 charity donation will be requested in advance.

Minnie's Mart
Friday evening holds one more new event at MagicMeets: Minnie's Mart, hosted by The Dream Team Project. You'll find all sorts of Disney-related goodies on sale: toys, pins, collectibles, posters, and more! All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. Minnie's Mart will be open in the lobby of the Convention Center on Friday, August 7th, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Come early for the best selection! Minnie's Mart will be cash only, with items ranging from $0.50 to $25.

Limited Edition Note Cards
The Dream Team Project will be selling a limited edition set of notecards featuring art by Sandy MacGowan. These beautiful cards will be sold in sets of 8 cards, 4 each of two designs, for a donation of $7.00 per set. All proceeds from the sale of these cards will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America.

Limited Edition Posters from Deb Wills
Be sure to stop by the AllEars table in the Main Ballroom during MagicMeets to purchase your own limited edition poster of The Flying Dutchman, the ghost ship seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, anchored off Castaway Cay. These 11 x 17" glossy posters are sure to sell out quickly!

And even if you are unable to attend MagicMeets, you can still help out! Thanks to the guys (and Annette) at the WDW Today podcast, if you make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America at http://www.firstgiving.com/dwtdreamteam between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8th, your name will be announced on the WDW Today Live Broadcast. All donations made during the time period will be included in the Auction total announced at MagicMeets. When you fill in your donation, please include your Internet community affiliation in the comment field, so that you can be thanked properly on the air.
Check out the WDW Today podcast website for details on how to join them for this and all their live shows. They will have a chat room going during the broadcast, which is always lots of fun, and sometimes have a live video feed direct from MagicMeets.

Q. What kind of auction format is it?
A. The Dream Team Project Auction is a silent auction. There will be bid sheets in front of each item. Just write down your name and how much you are willing to bid, and the highest bidder at auction end gets to purchase the item.

Q. Do I have to be present at the MagicMeets to bid? Can I bid by phone or online?
A. You must be present to bid. We unfortunately do not have the capabilities for absentee bidding.

Q. What types of payment will be accepted?
A. Secure payments using Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover can be accepted via Firstgiving.com (you may be asked to enter personal information to process this payment, which will NOT be kept by The Dream Team Project). If you have a PayPal account, you may also use that for payment. Cash is also accepted.

Q. Will there be photos or descriptions of the auction items available before the meet?
A. Yes! We will post previews online at WDWRadio.com in The Dream Team Project Blog. Look for them to start around July 21.

Q. Will there be a wide range of items and prices?
A. Yes, there will be items ranging from those with a low starting bid to those worth well over $100. As with any auction, some items will sell for low prices and some will escalate quickly. Remember, our goal is to raise money to help ill children, so be prepared to bid generously!

Q. I don't want to bid, or am not coming to MagicMeets... can I still make a monetary donation to support the Dream Team Project?
A. Yes! You can make a donation online anytime at The Dream Team Project's Firstgiving Page. We will also accept donations at the MagicMeet.

The Dream Team Project thanks you for your support and your help in making our 2009 Auction a success. We are very grateful to everyone who has donated items or volunteered their time to this year's event. This truly is a Team effort, and it takes a team to make the magic happen.

Thank you.