For Immediate Release                                                                                   
Contact: Kristin Tutino, (585) 258-0253

WXXI’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION KICKS OFF APRIL 26

(Rochester, NY) April 1, 2008 – A 2008 candy apple red Ford Mustang convertible from Shepard Ford is just one of thousands of great items up for bid during WXXI’s 40th Anniversary Auction. The online auction kicks off Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m.on WXXI-TV 21 (cable 11) with an hour-long special that will showcase some of this year’s Auction items. WXXI’s 40th Anniversary Auction, at WXXI.org/auction,runs April 26 through May 10.
Before tuning in to the television special, viewers are encouraged to register for a bidder’s account by visiting the Auction Web site, WXXI.org/auction, beginning Monday, April 14. When they do, they’ll automatically be entered in a drawing to win a Kodak digital camera. If they refer five friends, via email, to sign up for bidder accounts, they will be entered into the drawing again. (No purchase, donation or payment of any kind is necessary to enter to win.)
Over 5,000 items are up for bid, including original works of art from the Auction’s favorite-featured artists Laura Wilder and Jim Christy, a Beaches Resorts Family Sesame Street WonderFALL Package, a GPS Unit from the Stereo Shop, 2 Vine Gift Certificates, Century Liquors/Max of Eastman Place Wine Tasting Luncheon, Hickey Freeman Certificates, Bed and Breakfast Packages, Spa Packages and much more. All bidders who overbid on merchandise valued at $20 or more will receive a $5 gift certificate for the Little Bakery and a certificate for a free brick of delicious cheddar cheese from Cabot Creamery.

WXXI’s 40th Anniversary Auction, made possible with support from Eastman Kodak Company and Bausch & Lomb, helps to insure that WXXI can continue to bring quality programs and services so many depend on in the Greater Rochester community. This includes PBS programming, National Public Radio (NPR), locally produced documentaries and programs, Ed.Video Online, outreach initiatives and more.

The Auction car will be unveiled at WXXI’s Taste of New York Auction Gala on Thursday, April 17 at the Hyatt Regency. At the event guests will have the opportunity to be the first to bid on the Auction car, and see first hand some of the great merchandise featured in this year’s Auction. Tickets for the Taste of New York Auction Gala are just $50, and may be purchased by calling 585-258-0200. For more information about the gala, visit <http://wxxi.org/events/>.
WXXI’s 40th Anniversary Auction hour-long television special will also air on WXXI-DT21.2/digital cable 524 Sunday, April 27 – Saturday, May 3, and Monday, May 5 through Saturday, May 10 at 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., Monday, April 28 – Saturday, May 3 and Monday, May 5 – Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Sunday, April 27 at 12 noon and 7 p.m., Sunday, May 4 at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 10 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. It airs on WXXI-DT21.3 Sunday, April 27 through Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

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WXXI is the essential, life-long educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.