The final numbers aren’t in quite yet, but an air of hope and patience remains at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services days after the 32nd annual Possible Dreams auction.

“We’re thoroughly pleased,” Community Services executive director Julia Burgess said yesterday. “We got well over $300,000 and we expect to get more.”

Ms. Burgess said the final number will not be available for two weeks and the tallying of the donations is ongoing as donations continue to come in.

Nearly 40 dreams raised $225,000 this year, falling $35,000 short of last year’s $260,000 total, but event cochairman DiAnn Ray was confident money still being tallied from the auction, dinner, and other donations will bring this year’s number up. Mrs. Ray said an additional $20,000 was raised through donations at a $300-a-head dinner after the auction, bringing the grand total to around $311,000 and counting.

“It takes a while for the money to come in,” Mrs. Ray said yesterday. “People are still giving gifts.”

Donations aside, Ms. Ray thought the event was a success and was very pleased. “There was a positive atmosphere of fun and warmth,” she said. “I think our new auctioneers were very effective for their first time doing it. I thought they handled it very professionally.”

Barry Nolan
Barry Nolan cheers on the dreamers. — Peter Simon

Bidders won items such as a dinner with former CIA agent Valerie Plame, a trip for eight to Provence, and a moonlight serenade from Carly Simon. While Mrs. Ray admitted that not all dreams have the same value, the dreams they expected to bring in large bids succeeded in doing so.

“The fact that people who have experienced these dreams before without prompting stood up and so generously and effectively expressed how special these opportunities were for them, that’s when the dream works,” Mrs. Ray said. “When the donor and successful bidder have a wonderful time and enjoy the experience and Community Services benefits from the money raised, it’s a win-win for everyone. That was illustrated on Monday night.”

Past auctions have brought in as much as $850,000, as it did in 2006. Even with the economy in better shape than last year, Mrs. Ray said she believes the downturn still had an impact.

Asked how this year’s auction will affect the 2011 Community Services budget, Ms. Burgess said she would not know until the final count.

Nevertheless, the mood remained upbeat this week. “The dinner went really well. There was a great atmosphere, great buzz,” Mrs. Ray said. “Prior to doing this there was no way for anyone to share their experiences. It’s a way for some people who participate to share some time together, like an afterglow.”

She noted that the dedication and generosity of the staff at Community Services is sometimes overlooked, but it was that dedication and generosity that made events like the Possible Dreams auction, for lack of a better word, possible.

“We feel great,” Ms. Burgess said. “We’re very thankful to the community for their ongoing support.”