At this year’s TEDxAmsterdam, we have auctioned off some special items to raise money for the winner of the TEDxAmsterdam Award. Three initiatives gave a pitch on stage today and battled for the Award: On The Ground Reporter, Treemagotchi and Wind Drinker, but there could only be one winner: Wind Drinker!
Job Ubbens, chairman of Christie’s, stood on the left side of the stage and ran the auction behind a traditional auction block. Before starting the auction, he reveals that ING already put in €5,000 to “fill the till”, and trigger the public. The first prize being auctioned was a one week Wilderness Leadership Transformation Program in the African bush offered by Johan Bontje, which went for €3,500! Job Ubbens truly managed to spur the crowd, stimulating the public to bid against each other for the good cause, “and it’s probably tax deductible anyhow.” The second item was an electrical scooter from QWIC, which was brought on stage and sold for €2,200. Third item up for bid was an original Hubble Space Telescope solar cell, for the tech-savyy amongst us, which sold for €1,500. Rutger Hauer offered a unique experience, because it involves a guided tour through Hollywood in a Tesla car with the actor in person, and “the woman in the back” bought it for €1,500! Item five was a gift breaking with this year’s tradition of an invite-only event, so don’t wait, don’t be late! The price of the set of twenty-one tickets was gradually raised from €100 each, to €200, €300, €400… and they were eventually sold for €600 each. Job, you’re a miracle.
After the regular auction, a spontaneous TEDxAmsterdam attendee offered an additional item for auction. His offer was a six-course dinner at ‘t Brouwerskolkje in Overveen, which currently holds two Michelin stars, selling for €2,500, and when consumed before February, the cook promises lots of truffles in his menu. This brings the total prize for Wind Drinker to a mere €28,800. Thank you!
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