What began as a harmless prank to auction off a friend turned into a serious fundraiser for two disc jockeys who wound up raising money to combat breast cancer on Oct. 18 and 25.
KSLC 90.3 FM DJs seniors Taylor Avritt and Kevin Coleman raised $177 when they auctioned dates with several peers Their largest bid was for senior Cole Bixenman, who drew a $125 pledge.
“We were going to auction him off because he was newly single, but with the amount of money he drew, we decided to find a suitable breast cancer awareness foundation to donate it to,” Avritt said.
Coleman said they were obligated to find a good use for the money they raised.
“Once it got over $50, we kinda had to,” Coleman said. “It’s a lot of money to donate.”
Arvitt and Coleman donated the money to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a breast cancer awareness organization, because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Coleman said. They said it was at the behest of the winners of Bixenman: juniors Hilary Hastings and Allison Navarro.
Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority raises money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s efforts during the sorority’s annual Think Pink Week.
“We couldn’t think of anything else,” he said. “There wasn’t much thought behind this. It was pretty spontaneous.”

Hastings said she and Navarro did not intend to donate a large amount of money when they first bid on Bixenman.
“We were going to donate $10 each just for fun,” she said. “$125 later, here we are.”
Navarro said they started donating because they knew the money was going to a charity, and breast cancer research is important to her and Hastings.
On the night of the second auction, Oct. 25, the women delivered an envelope of checks for the foundation to Avritt and Coleman.
Bixenman also made an appearance on the show.
“I found out about it from a Facebook group a day before the show,” he said. “I told [Avritt] no. He did it anyway. I can’t fault them for putting the money toward a good cause.”
The bidding was not limited to Bixenman. Junior Jen Match donated $3 to win a date with Avritt.
Match also made an appearance at the radio station Oct. 25.

The show featured several other men who were auctioned off, including seniors Steven Dark and Beau Slayton.
“It’s kinda fun and for a good cause,” Slayton said.
Seniors Travis Tocher and Bryce Comfort assisted the DJs. While Avritt and Coleman bantered on air and discussed the auction, Tocher answered phone calls and recorded bids.
Current and previous auctionees, last week’s winners and a pair of photographers crowded the control booth for the Oct. 25 show.
This week, the auctioneers made $75, which will go to the foundation.
Avritt and Coleman are planning on changing the recipients of their donations in November, as it will no longer be Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Avritt and Coleman began working for KSLC in 2010, during Spring Semester. Their program is called “Gettin’ Hard.”
“It’s basically goofing off for other people,” Avritt said. “We’re trying to do something good with our show.”

Joshua Ensler/News editor
Joshua Ensler can be reached at [email protected].