Buying art for West Philadelphia's sake

Tonight, a silent auction at the Institute of Contemporary Art will offer the chance for art lovers to snag priceless works by artists from New York City and Philadelphia. Add to that the opportunity to help refurbish homes of West Philadelphia residents, and Penn students have a can't-miss event. For two hours, Penn's chapter of Rebuilding Together Philadelphia will host the event beginning at 7 p.m., which organizers anticipate will attract a crowd of at least 200, in an effort to raise funds for their upcoming events in April. According to Rebuilding Together Philadelphia undergraduate board member Rebecca Heidenberg, the various art works are worth between $15,000 and $16,000 in total, but "the starting prices are a lot lower so that everyone can get a deal." In addition to the bidding wars, hors d'oeuvres will be served and a quartet from the Penn Chamber Music Society will provide ambience. Rebuilding Together Philadelphia seeks to raise enough money to fund three houses this year that will be rejuvenated by about 200 volunteers from the Penn community. In total, the group will beautify and repair 18 homes of those in need of assistance, including the elderly and disabled, throughout the month of April. The group -- led by Nursing senior Sarah Kissel and Wharton senior Kimberly Linton -- is part of a larger group founded by Wharton graduate students in 1988. This year, according to Heidenberg, who is responsible for much of the planning of the event, the undergraduate board seeks to increase their responsibilities with the organization. But with increased responsibilities comes the need for increased funding. "The undergraduate board wants to extend so that we can find more of our own houses," said Heidenberg, a College junior. "The money [from the auction] is going directly to the undergraduate board to finance rebuilding homes in West Philadelphia." "This year, we are independently fundraising for one house," Kissel added. "This used to be a graduate organization, and in the recent four years, it has spun off, and there's an undergraduate board." The board, which has been working on the auction since November, consists of about 10 members. However, according to Kissel, "the graduate board has more of an ability to get corporate sponsors." Each year, the undergraduate board holds a raffle, and in the past, has tried other events including a coffeehouse. In hopes of continuing to better the West Philadelphia community, Kissel said the board members "hope to make [the auction] an annual event."

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