Auction Away

PILF holds 24th annual fundraising event

By Kalyn Norwood

Give back and win big in Hollywood.

The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) will host its 24th Annual Auction Friday, Jan. 31, at the Beso Restaurant in Hollywood. The proceeds from the event  – PILF’s major fundraiser – will help provide grants for students to work for public service organizations over the summer.

The Silent Auction will begin at 6:30 p.m.; the Live Auction will begin at 8:00 p.m. Some of this year’s auction items include lunch with U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte; dinner and tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers’ game with General Counsel for the Lakers Jim Perzik ’62 and Dean Rasmussen; and a membership to CrossFit SolCity in Los Angeles.

“It is a great opportunity for the student body, faculty, and alumni to get together outside of school and have a good time,” said Sierra Gronewold ’15, president of PILF. “The live auction is always a lot of fun, and it is good for people to experience the social side of PILF.”

This event serves as the primary source of funding for PILF grants and provides students the opportunity to take part in public interest legal work across the country. Locally, students have been able to work with Alliance for Children’s Rights, Public Counsel, Bet Tzedek and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, to name a few.

Tickets can be purchased in front of the Law Café from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., online at https://2014pilfauction.eventbrite.com or at the door the night of the fundraiser. Student pre-sale and recent alumni tickets are $35. General tickets are $40.

Last year, the student-run organization raised $25,000 through the auction and was able to award more than $100,000 in grants overall. After the event concludes, there will be an after-party at Hemmingway’s Lounge next door.

“We have to work really hard to raise money every year for summer grants,” Gronewold said. “It means a lot to students who want to go into public interest that the community is supporting our career goals and doing their best to assist us afford these opportunities.”

For more information regarding the event or PILF, please contact Thai Phan.