“The Sky’s the Limit” Fundraiser Returns With Silent Auction

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

Though it had to be put on ice during last spring and summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “The Sky’s the Limit” fundraiser for local first responders is back now and in full swing.

Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman, his wife Simi, and a whole crowd of friends and helpers are now preparing a major fundraising event in Mesquite. And all of the community is invited.

A silent auction luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Mesquite United Methodist Church at 420 W. Pioneer Blvd. The auction will begin at 10 am and will remain open for bidding until noon. A light lunch will be served between 12:00 and 1 pm.

“The Sky’s the Limit” fundraising effort actually began in October 2020. At that time, the Zuckermans put the word out about it into the community through the pages of The Progress and by word of mouth. Within about a month, the effort had already raised more than $22,000 in cash donations to go to Mesquite police and fire departments.

The idea of the fundraiser originated with Simi Zuckerman. As the wife of a rabbi serving in different synagogues over more than 30 years, her mind is almost habitually thinking of ways to raise funds for different causes.

“I heard that, with the current economic conditions, the police and fire departments needed some things that they couldn’t get from their current budgets,” Simi told The Progress last year. “So I though: Why can’t we get the community involved to raise money to help with that?”

From the beginning it was made clear that this fundraiser is not intended to make up for any general cuts to department budgets, but rather to focus on providing some specific wish list items that the departments have identified which would not normally be included in their budgets.

Rabbi Zuckerman, affectionately know around town in Mesquite as “Zucky”, had planned to hold this silent auction last spring as a final push in the fundraising effort. But the health restrictions from the pandemic lingered on through the spring and summer and such a gathering was not possible. Now, over a year after its beginning, the fundraiser is going to have its final event, Zucki said.

“One way or another we are going to make this happen,” Zucky said. “And we hope that the community will continue offering its support.”

For the silent auction luncheon, Zucky has teamed up with Pastor Wendy Swanson and her husband Bob Swanson at Mesquite United Methodist Church. Zucky said that he had approached Pastor Wendy after he had been unable to find an appropriate venue to hold the fundraiser.

“She has an adequate space for the auction at the church and she was very gracious and willing to offer it to use for this cause,” Zucky said.

Pastor Wendy said that she was glad to provide the space. And she even volunteered her husband to cook for the event, along with the rest of the cafeteria volunteers at the church.

“My husband is an amazing cook and we have an excellent crew who are more than willing to help,”

Pastor Wendy said. “This is such an important community effort and at Mesquite United Methodist, we are all about the community. Our church building is not just for worship. It is God’s house which includes the community.”

The silent auction will sport a whole host of items for sale, donated by local individuals, organizations and businesses.

Perhaps chief among these is an historic Olympic torch from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Zucky himself is donating this item to sell for the cause.

Zucky was actually one of the torchbearers in the leadup to the 1996 Games. He carried the Olympic torch for a one-kilometer leg of the ceremonial relay that took the flame from Athens, Greece to Atlanta. Zucky’s leg was in Carlsbad, California near his home at that time in San Diego.

Other items up for auction at the event will include a new rifle from GRI Firearms; a three day, two night stay at Casablanca Resort; Dinner at Gregory’s Mesquite Grill; rounds of golf at three local courses including Conestoga, Casablanca and Coyote Willows; free meals at Chicago Greek, Hole Foods Bakery and more.

Items have also been donated for the auction by Danielle’s Chocolates and Popcorn, Big O Tire, High Desert Home Furnishings, Boulevard Home Furnishings, Baja Imports, Fringe Salon and Mesquite Quality Auto Detail.