ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Rotary Club’s annual From the Heart online auction has begun.

Those organizing the From The Heart annual gala are broken hearted over not being able to hold our in person Gala in 2021, but our charities still need us. 

That’s why From The Heart is asking that you give from your heart this year. The gala, which is normally held on first Saturday of February at the Flight Deck Bar and Grille in Rochelle, raises more than $46,000 for seven local non-profit groups that provide valuable family services in and around the Rochelle region.

This year, the From The Heart Committee has decided to host a Virtual Event in 2021 on the From The Heart Facebook page and an online auction at https://bearrows.hibid.com.

The online auction features items that would normally have appeared on our silent auction tables during the in-person gala. There is something for everyone on the online auction.

On the auction block are 26 centerpieces created by Rochelle florists Colonial Flowers and Cypress House. The person who is the highest bidder and wins each centerpiece will also be entered into a separate drawing for the Centerpiece Necklace which is a 4-karat White Gold Diamond Fashion Necklace .95-carat, exclusively designed by Busch Jewelers in Rockford, and valued at $3,000. The drawing for the Centerpiece Necklace will take place during our Virtual Event at 7 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 6 on the From The Heart Facebook page.

Another item on the auction block features an incredible opportunity for the serious Elvis collector. You can have the change to own 10 black and white photographs, enlarged from the original negatives from the front row of Elvis in concert in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on May 14, 1956. This is part of a limited 1000 numbered and signed editions. These are unique, highly desirable, museum quality heirloom portfolio. Photographer Vinje Dahl was just 15 years old and in the audience during the concert. The negatives of the photographs ended up in a box of high school memorabilia, and were rediscovered back in the late 1990s. The collection was retailed at $2,500.

For the sports fans, the auction will feature a Chicago Bears framed photo montage of Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, autographed by both players.

Also up for bids is a framed photo montage of former Chicago Cub Ryne Sandberg, featuring his autograph.

The auction will also feature two pieces of jewelry from Busch Jewelers in Rockford. The first is a Ladies 10-karat White Gold Dancing Shimmering Diamond Pendant .90-carat total weight, retailed at $2,400. The second is a Ladies 10-karat Yellow Gold Diamond Fashion Heart Pendant .95-carat total weight, retailed at $1,500.

Another item up for auction is free ice cream throughout 2021 from Grandma Rosie’s Woodfire and Ice.

There will be a Mac Sport Utility Wagon filled with white wine, and a Mac Sport Utility Wagon filled with red wine on the auction.

Also featured on the auction will be a Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler filled with craft beer.

This is just a taste of the auction items up for grabs. Visit https://bearrows.hibid.com to see the full list of items available.

From The Heart is still accepting tickets for its Virtual Event. For $100 per ticket, you will have an entry into a drawing to win one of five Virtual Event Prizes: 1/2 Hog and Processing; 1/4 Beef and Processing; LG UHD 75 Inch TV; Apple Watch Series 6; and a KitchenAid 5 Quart Bowl Lift Stand Mixer. Plus you will receive a $25 voucher for the Flight Deck. Additional chances to win one of the five prizes are available for $20 each, once the initial $100 ticket is purchased.

Please mail your Virtual Ticket payment to From The Heart, PO Box 202, Rochelle, IL 61068.  For more information, call Dave at 815-562-2220. Online ticket may be purchased at http://fromtheheartrochelle.org.