The annual Public Interest Experience Auction raised more than $27,000, shattering the previous record by nearly 20 percent

The event raised funds to support students’ unpaid summer internships with an array of public interest organizations that provide legal services to vulnerable populations.

This year’s auction, held March 10 at the Citizens Bank Park Hall of Fame Club, was planned and managed solely by students, who solicited donations of goods and services from faculty, staff, members of the legal community and merchants.

3L Stanford Ponson, who chaired the auction committee, noted that organizers also sought sponsors for this year’s event, which received generous support from Greenberg, Walden & Grossman LLC, based in Hudson County, N.J., Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky, headquartered in Philadelphia, and Matt Burne Honda, located in Scranton.

The auction’s biggest-ticket item was a trip to murder mystery dinner theater with Professors Gwen Roseman Stern and Donald Tibbs, which went for $1,800.

Ponson said additional high-ticket items included Club Box tickets to a 76ers game donated by Tom Kline and Diamond Dugout tickets to a Phillies game donated by Saltz Mongeluzzi.

This year, approved applicants will be receive PIE grants of varied amounts, depending on the circumstances of a student’s employment.  Grants for bar preparation courses will also be available for those launching public interest careers, Ponson said.

“I’m satisfied with how well it turned out,” Ponson said, noting that auction committee members Annelise Gress, Lauren McCulloch, Sarah Pulisciano, Natalie Shute and Alex Wysocki deserve a great deal of credit for their hard work.