For Immediate Release
Contact: Kristin Tutino, (585) 258-0253

WXXI’S ONLINE AUCTION KICKS OFF APRIL 22
Thousands of Items for Bid in Support of Rochester’s Public Broadcasting Station

Rochester, NY (April 10, 2006) – WXXI’s Annual Online Auction, The Big Deal at wxxi.org, kicks off Saturday, April 22 with thousands of great items up for bid! This year’s big deals include a 2006 Ford Fusion V6 SE from Shepard Ford in Canandaigua, dinner and a Sabres game with team owner Tom Golisano in his suite, a 22 ft. Partikraft Pontoon Boat from the German Brothers, a trip to Great Britain, a camper from Ballantyne RV & Marine and throwing out the first pitch at a Red Wings game. Rochesterians can check out this merchandise and more by logging on to wxxi.org and by tuning in to WXXI-TV 21 (cable 11) on Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m. for the live, televised Auction Kick Off. From April 23 through April 30 additional merchandise will be showcased in an hour-long special entitled Auction Features, airing on WXXI’s digital channel, WXXI-Q (DTV 21.2/Cable 524) and WXXI-Create (DTV 21.3/Cable 433). See DTV schedules at wxxi.org for a complete list of airdates and times.

Bids can be placed by logging on to wxxi.org/thebigdeal starting Saturday, April 22 at 8 a.m. You must have a bidder’s account to place a bid and can register for an account by logging on to wxxi.org/thebigdeal beginning the week of April 17.

Roycroft Renaissance Master Artist Laura Wilder returns to the Auction with a new painting entitled “Eastman House by Moonlight". Watercolor artist Jim Christy also returns with a watercolor painting entitled "Spirit of the Genesee".

Over 4,000 items are up for bid including a flat-screen TV, lunch with Mayor Duffy, an iPod Nano, bowling parties, numerology readings, a Cannondale bike, restaurant certificates, puppets, a home theater system, a cruise, Wizard of Clay pottery and much more.

The WXXI Auction supports the many programs and services that Rochester’s public broadcasting station provides including PBS programming, National Public Radio (NPR), locally produced documentaries and programs, GED Connection, and Ed.Video Online to serve its community.

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WXXI is the essential, life-long educational media resource for the Greater Rochester area. WXXI puts the community first with programming that stimulates and expands thought, inspires the spirit, opens cultural horizons and promotes understanding of diverse community issues. Log on to wxxi.org for more information about our services and programs.

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