Good Deeds: Giving back to the community one auction at a time

Growing up, Charlie Moon loved going to auctions.

He would go with his dad, he said, and attending those auctions in Oklahoma was always fun.

In more recent decades, Moon has worked as a senior vice president of retail administration for Fidelity Bank. But in his spare time, he is a benefit auctioneer.

Fifteen years ago, Moon received special training to be a benefit auction specialist. He said he is one of about 200 in the nation.

He has been the auctioneer for Winefest, the Wichita Grand Opera, St. Vincent de Paul in Andover and Old Cowtown Museum’s Wine Mosey. He estimates he does 15 to 30 benefit auctions a year, all for free.

“This has nothing to do with my job at the bank,” Moon said. “It is just my way of giving back to the community.

“The Bible says to those who much is given, much is expected. I do this to help other people.”

Moon is a member of both the National Auctioneers Association and Kansas Auctioneer Association. His first auction as the auctioneer was in 1988 for his church, St. Vincent de Paul.

“I would much rather be up in front doing something than in back watching it all happen,” he said.

This story was originally published August 24, 2014 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Good Deeds: Giving back to the community one auction at a time."