Where in the World is Kelly Russell? Charity Auction 911 Edition

The Spring 2026 season has been a wild ride! You know me—I'm usually bopping back and forth between Indiana and Portland—but lately, my calendar has been pulling some serious "pop-up event" stunts!

I absolutely adore my network of amazing benefit auctioneer friends across the country, and when they call with an SOS, I practically shout "YES!" and teleport (or, you know, book the fastest flight/drive) to be there for them. This season has been overflowing with those "yes" moments!

Here's a little peek behind the curtain at what happens when the benefit auction world calls 911:

Dates Change. (It happens!)

Flights are Unpredictable. (High winds, anyone?)

People Get Sick. (We're all human!)

Photo credit: EMF Creative

Back in February, my fabulous charity auctioneer friend Dale Johannes had a classic date-swap dilemma. A client needed to move their fundraising event, and he was booked solid. Luckily, the stars (and my calendar) aligned, and I got to zoom out to Portland to fill in for Portland Center Stage. And oh, what a night! They transformed their traditional gala into a spectacular variety show. I teamed up with the always-sparkling Bolivia Carmichaels, and we were literally part of the show! The raffle, the bid frenzy, the live auction, the fundraising appeal—each element got a fun variety act interlude. It was a blast and exactly what that audience needed.

Then came the infamous March 13th call from my dear friend Shannon Eason.

Shannon: “How long would it take you to get to Chicago?”

Me: “Probably about 3 hours.”

Shannon: “Okay, go now!”

Me: “Now?”

Shannon: “Yes, now!”

Talk about an AUCTION 911! Shannon was totally stranded in Missouri thanks to gnarly high winds grounding her flight. But fret not, because I was a mere (three-hour) skip, hop, and jump down the road. I threw on my auction attire, packed a bag, and zipped off to Chicago. Thankfully, Shannon got moving and made it just in time for the main event, but I got to kick things off by selling the super-fun "Bartender at your table" experience! BONUS: I got quality girl time with one of my favorite female benefit auctioneers!

Finally, on April 7th, my phone rang. It was my friend Graham Crow in Seattle. He was unfortunately sidelined by sickness and couldn't make it to his event for the St. Louis Children’s Choirs on April 11th. I was so honored to step in! It was a truly heartwarming evening. The venue was filled with the joyful sound of incredibly talented musicians (the choir and some alumni!). We had music, a sweet dessert auction, dinner, the main live auction, more music, the appeal, and a beautiful, interactive piece at the end. Absolutely stunning!

Photo credit: EMF Creative

I don't share these tales of last-minute mayhem to point fingers or focus on the negatives. Quite the opposite! I share them because they perfectly illustrate the magic of working with a true network of dedicated professionals. We show up for each other!

Nonprofits: These kinds of circumstances don't just affect auctioneers; they also affect you and your events. That's why it is absolutely critical to have a trusted partner who can help you proactively create contingency plans to limit unexpected problems and make it easier to respond when they do happen. The best Professional Benefit Auctioneers will make the call to their network first and then bring you solutions, not problems.

Let’s face it: The world is a whirlwind right now. We're all human. Nonprofits sometimes have to pivot dates for their audience. Flights are occasionally as reliable as a coin flip. And yes, we all catch a bug sometimes. But here's the bottom line: We know how incredibly important your event is, so we have each other's backs to guarantee your night is a smashing success! 

I am so incredibly thrilled and honored to be part of this amazing network of auctioneers. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the day I need their help, they'll be right there for my awesome clients, too!