Encyclobeaniea author to sell entire collection with portion of proceeds to benefit World Concern.

Bean bag toys make a difference in Kosovo--special charity auction: Beans for Balkans to benefit World Concern!

Collectors Show They Care

By Marilyn Joyce Fettner

Collectors can make a difference! Just ask Dawna Foucht, Encyclobeaniea Webmaster and the woman behind the Beans for Balkans program. This program sponsors a relief effort for victims of the conflict in Yugoslavia. Pledging their support, Mary Beth's Bean Bag World Monthly and Tri-Star Productions donated a booth to Beans for Balkans at the Philadelphia Bean Bag World convention.

Foucht recalls that the volunteer booth workers were touched by the outpouring of support from convention visitors and exhibitors. Cash donations were matched by H&S Media's CEO, Harvey Wasserman.

A trio of convention-exclusive owl bean bag toys from Cascade Toy wore maroon ribbons with "Beans for Balkans" in gold lettering. The owls, nicknamed "Mercy," were such a hit that Cascade Toy will make a fourth white owl available with the limited-edition ribbons. Donated items offered for auction attracted potential bidders. Items included donations from companies, such as Cascade Toy, Bean Brigade, Winey Bears, Celebrity Bears, Cavanaugh Group, Collecticritters, Bianet, Puffkins, Peaceable Planet and Bean Wear.

One dealer offered more than 10 sets of BBOC Series II Collector CardsŪ donated by convention vendors. Marty Krofft of H.R. Pufnstuf donated a sign from his Living Toys booth, which caused quite a commotion among the audience. More than $3,000 was raised from that auction alone.

Donations were received from several companies, including Cascade Toy, SMD, Silver Star International (Bean Brigade), Winey Beans, Celebrity Bears, Cavanagh Group, Classic Collecticritters, Flash, Bianet, Lil Treasures, Puffkins (Swibco), Peaceable Planet, Living Toys, Flash, Elite Distributing, Encyclobeaniea, Bean Wear and the Outback Country Store in New Berlin, New York. Items continue to be donated and will be up for auction on Internet site eBay. For details about the planned auctions, visit www.ebay.com

"In all, we raised $3,000 from the silent auction. We sold approximately 140 of the limited edition Cascade Toy owls in three different colors," said Foucht. "And $500 from the sale of the owls was donated to World Concern. While we raised more awareness than actual proceeds, there were some lessons to be learned. Several of the donations came from young collectors who wanted to help."

The efforts of all those involved with Beans for Balkans shows that giving can be just as fulfilling as collecting. To learn how you can help, go to the Web site www.heavensfield.com or write Heavensfield at P.O.Box 643, Fall City, WA 98024-0643.

Marilyn Joyce Fettner is a writer for Mary Beth's Bean Bag World Monthly.
This article appears with permission from Mary Beth's Bean Bag World Monthly (www.Bean Bagworld.net). These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.