1. Fundraising Auctioneer Testimonials for David M. Kaufman
“Thank you for a wonderful evening of sassy auctioneering. You were lively and keep
the flow going.
You kept the auction organized even with the last minute board changes. Kudos to
you.
You were a joy to work with and I really appreciate all of your help."
Keith Elliott - Theater and Special Events Director - Ruth Page Center for the
Arts
... I got all the credit for getting you there to be our auctioneer [Luminarts Gala at The
Union League Club held on May 26th last). Oh, well, I will share some of the feed
back I got...
Everyone thought you were better than anything in the past. Funny, you not only got
the bids but you gave 1000% effort to make an entertaining, fun, successful auction for
us. Jason, our executive director, was very grateful for your stellar performance.
It is almost certain you will get a call for next year. Thanks for being such a good friend
and making me look like a hero!
You're the best!
(PS - I might try to make your gig [Lincoln Park Conservancy] this Saturday night. I use
to be on their board.)
Jimmy Meyer - Union League Club of Chicago’s Luminarts Board Member
"No question about it—you were the hit of the Women’s’ Board’s Boys and Girls Clubs
Ball! People came up to me all evening to tell me that you were absolutely the best
auctioneer the Club has ever had. And I continue to hear that around the Club. You
were charming, funny, professional, AND you raised an all-time high of $24,000. Wow!”
Elaine G. Roth, Chair, Boys and Girls Clubs Ball, The Union League Club of
Chicago
“Your formidable ability as an auctioneer contributed greatly to the record-breaking
sum raised this year. Equally important, the live auction was entertaining and fun,
adding to the general up-beat feel of the entire evening.”
Lee A. Karton, Benefit Co-Chairman Boys & Girls Clubs Ball, Union League
Club/Chicago

2.
“You employed a masterful blend of humor, lively encouragement, assertiveness and
timing, which maximized our charitable income and added to the entertainment for the
evening…. It was a delight to meet you and see you in action.”
Alice Dodd, Development Associate
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
“You were a major hit at last season’s benefit/auction for the Chicago Youth Symphony
Orchestras, and you know the reward for a job well-done. We’d love to have you work
your magic for us again on Sunday, March 8 in the Hotel Inter-Continental’s Grand
Ballroom.”
Alice Dodd, Development Associate
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
“You were terrific! …The live auction was the entertainment of the evening and you
were able to work miracles. I have never seen so many attentive bidders competing so
high. The works went for so much more this year, thanks to you! …Your jokes were
great, too. ‘I haven’t seen so many people since my trial!’ – was inspired.”
Michele Rose Shields, Executive Director
Evanston Art Center
“I want to thank you for your truly remarkable performance. Happily, we had the
bidders there. But, without your energy and charisma, we could never have attained the
thirty three thousand plus in the Live Auction. When you step forward, mike and gavel in
hand, you create an excitement that has to be experienced to be believed! The air fairly
crackles with magic!”
Elaine Balbach, Dinner Chairwoman
The Lake Forest Symphony
“We thought you were terrific, but more than that, we’ve had such good comments
from others that they thought you were great, and they had a fantastic time that this in
itself is the bottom line - it was a super evening… we couldn’t have done it without you!”
Michael Fisher, Leonard Klein,
Robert Vihon, Auction Co-chairmen
Center For Enriched Living
“In just two days, I’ve had at least 15 phone calls ranging from ‘where did you get him’
to ‘he was terrific’ and that you were.”
Lynne Albanese, Center For Enriched Living
“What a performance! Your auctioneering is electrifying and certainly stimulates an
audience to bid. It was an exciting time for all of us.”
Judith Somberg, Young Mens’ Jewish Council

3.
“We have received endless compliments about your ‘performance’ last Saturday. Many
have said that this year’s auction was the best of the seven - both in terms of
presentation and results.”
Charles A. Lewis, Auction Co-Chairman
Evanston High School Boosters Club
“On behalf of the Variety Club, our most gracious thanks goes out to you for the
incredible auctioning job you did at our Domino’s event. …the event would not have run
as smoothly or as profitably had it not been for your expertise and ability to ‘ad-lib. You
were terrific!”
Barbara Sellett, Variety Club of Illinois
“You were awesome! …People are still talking about what a great job you did! You
were charming, humorous, entertaining and highly effective! Your student helpers
enjoyed meeting and working with you.
I personally appreciate all of your helpful advice and guidance in advance of the actual
auction. Your suggestions were extremely helpful and I’m grateful for your time and
expertise.”
Cindy Buck, Director of Development
New Hampton School, New Hampton, NH
“As a result of your personality and prowess as an auctioneer, the Auction was a
tremendous success netting over $25,000 for Children’s Memorial Hospital.”
Michael P. Goldman, Katten Muchin & Zavis
“Your enthusiasm and professionalism thrilled our guests and contributed greatly to the
overall success of our live auction.
We appreciate your efforts and would like to ask that you “save the date” next year to
again lend your talents to help The Cradle.
Thank you for your energy and efforts! You were great!”
Julie S. Tye, President, The Cradle
Evanston, Illinois
“I wanted to thank you again for your fantastic effort as our oral auctioneer April 7th.
You were the reason we raised a record $96,500 for the oral auction items.
I have also received many positive comments about the scholarships we auctioned off
which was your idea…bringing in another $10,000. The audience connected with our
mission.
…(we) can count on you as one of the very key ingredients to our event.
We look forward to working with you again.”
Mary Lou Mulvihill Skalkos, Board MemberSt. Joseph’s Carondelet Child
Center Auction Coordinator

4. Fundraiser Auctions Conducted by David Kaufman…
The Cradle Ball - Evanston
St. Joseph's Carondelet Child Center - Chicago
ULC Boy & Girls Club
ULC Civic & Arts Foundation
The Maryville Academy
Omni Youth Services
The Cedar School (British Virgin Islands)
Rotary Club (British Virgin Islands)
HIV/AIDS (British Virgin Islands)
Salvation Army (British Virgin Islands)
Teen Living Program
Chicago Commons
Association House
Les Dames d'Escoffier International
New Hampton School - New Hampton, New Hampshire
Infant Welfare Society of Chicago
Frances Xavier Warde School
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
DuPage County Easter Seals

5.
Institute for Psychoanalysis
North Shore Art League - Winnetka, Illinois
Cove School - Winnetka, Illinois
The Old Town School of Folk Music
Winnetka Womens' Club
Kohl's Childrens' Museum
Lake Forest Symphony
Ida Crown Jewish Academy
Center For Enriched Living
Young Mens’ Jewish Council
Evanston High School Boosters Club
Variety Club of Illinois
Le Cirque du Soleil (Scottsdale, AZ)
Childrens' Memorial Hospital
The Ronald McDonald House
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
The North Shore Country Day School