MarsCon traditionally hosts a Charity Auction with proceeds benefitting locally-based charities. Please join us Sunday March 9th, at 10am, Main Stage (Ballroom III/IV).

Oasis for Youth organization logo

We are excited to announce that one of our 2024 Charity Auction recipients will be Oasis For Youth!

Oasis for Youth aims to be the trusted resource committed to elevating youth in their own community. Oasis was launched in 2010 by a group of community members who recognized that an alarming number of suburban youth were facing homelessness and did not have access to targeted services within their own community. Oasis was the first suburban drop-in center in the Twin Cities metro area. Today, Oasis supports more than 450 young people annually in our five service areas: 
 
Drop-In Center: Our drop-in center brings a variety of resources together in one place, providing a safe and inclusive environment for youth to get critical needs met, work on goals and build community.
School and Community Outreach: Our outreach team ensures that youth across our communities have easy access to resources. We are onsite at our area high schools and alternative schools, and our Mobile Oasis brings resources to youth, where they’re at.
Housing: Our robust continuum of housing services helps prevent episodes of homelessness, addresses immediate shelter needs, provides long-term housing supports and lots of in between.
Mall of America Employment Program: Our workforce innovation model addresses workforce shortages while helping young people build positive, foundational job experiences. We support youth to find stability and success within and outside of work.
Youth leadership: Oasis ensures authentic and relevant programs through our Youth Advisory Board (YAB), youth employment opportunities, and internships.
 
Oasis supports youth and young families ages 16-24. 85% of our youth are BIPOC, 33%  identify as LGBTQ, and 24% are pregnant and/or parenting. Oasis imagines our communities as places where all young people have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of who they are or how they identify. We center our work on relationships and value our youth and the wisdom they possess. We offer safe and affirming spaces that allow youth to feel connected to their community, where their full identities are seen, valued, and uplifted.

The Gordon Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund is another charity that MarsCon’s charity auction will benefit. The GDMSF was established in 2002 for three purposes:

  • To honor Gordy Dickson, local fan and science fiction and fantasy pro writer who died in 2001.
  • To collect money to send potential new writers to the Clarion Workshop for SF and fantasy writers, or some other workshop. (Gordy always encouraged new writers.)
  • To promote accord in Twin Cities fandom by having a project that various fan clubs and individual fans can work on together. 

Live Auction

The Charity Auction is held at MarsCon on Sunday morning at 10:00am on the Main Stage. Auction organizers will accept silent bids prior to the Auction if you can’t be in the room during the Auction. Open viewing starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, and some items will be on display in various function rooms throughout the convention. Some charity items will be placed in Art Show for quick sales prior to the live auction, depending on available space. Proceeds from the MarsCon 2025 Charity Auction will benefit local charities.

So, how can I help out with the Charity Auction and other charitable events at MarsCon?
We’re glad you asked!  Here are a few ways to help:

Donate stuff!
We accept donations throughout the year, at planning meetings, and all the way until the convention and even during the convention. If you have something cool that somebody would bid on, you can drop it off in Master Control when you arrive at MarsCon. Master Control is located on first floor, across from the hotel’s front desk. We are able to take donations up until an hour before the auction.

Picture of Star Trek action figures new in box, some books, and other items donated for the charity auction.

Bid on stuff!
There is usually at least one treasure that you will really want—maybe an autographed picture of one of the Guests of Honor, a toy, some tickets to a movie, a poster, some books—so show up, bid, and remember that what you spend is going to support worthwhile causes!

  • WHAT: A LIVE Charity Auction
  • WHEN: Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 11:00 am CDT – remember: Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday!!
  • WHERE: Main Stage (Ballroom III/IV)
  • HOW: Bring your badge, and raise a hand or give a shout to bid. Silent bidding is also available during open viewing starting at 10:00 am on Sunday.
  • WHY: To lend your support to worthwhile causes and contribute to the community

Volunteer!
We always need help setting up the auction donations for display prior to the auction, holding up items for better viewing during the auction, keeping track of bids and tabulating, etc..

Let Us Know!
If you or your group are planning another charitable activity at MarsCon, please let us know ahead of time so we can help you promote your event as well. Contact us with your charity auction questions. 

Thank you for your generosity!