CowParade auction to benefit new children’s hospital

After five months of “grazing” in Madison, Sun Prairie and Fitchburg, nearly half of the CowParade Wisconsin cows will be put up for auction on Friday, Nov. 10.

The CowParade Wisconsin auction, “Dazzle in Dairyland,” is a cocktail party and fundraiser hosted by Friends of UW Hospital and Clinics and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall. Proceeds from the sale of each cow will be donated to the American Family Children’s Hospital, as well as 22 other nonprofit organizations.

The new American Family Children’s Hospital is scheduled to open in 2007.

Forty-four of the herd of 101 life-sized cows will be auctioned beginning at 8 p.m. Buyers can also opt to donate the cows back to community centers, libraries, schools and other public venues. Calf-sized “Mini-Moos” designed by local high-school artists and table-top “Micro-Moos” created by local florists, interior designers and other artists will be part of a silent auction that evening.

Tickets for the event are $100 per person and can be purchased at http://www.friendsgala.org or by calling 890-9957. Absentee bids can be arranged in advance and will be accepted in the minimum amount of $2,500.

Members of the CowParade Wisconsin herd not offered in the live auction will be available through a two-week Internet auction beginning at midnight on Saturday, Nov. 11, at http://www.cowparadeauction.com.