Perhaps not quite as startling as the 71,101 watching the Giants defeat the Patriots, but equally as impressive, more than 740 dined and spent on Saturday night at the Reverse Raffle and Auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming.

Preliminary figures released Monday afternoon indicated $306,437 was raised at the event held inside the NERD hangar, including money from sponsorships, matches, cash received at the event and good faith invoices.

Last year's event total after expenses was $250,035.

The event featured a large silent auction of items as diverse as children's gift baskets and an ornate wine rack filled with bottles of wine.

Club member Dominique Maestas, a student at Kelly Walsh High School, wowed the crowd with an a capella rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Former Gov. Mike Sullivan and his wife, Jane, greeted the crowd.

DeAngelo DeMolin, 8, and a student at North Casper Elementary, was sharp in a black tuxedo with red vest as he answered questions on stage about his daily involvement at the club.

Smooth-talking Denton Wilson, a veteran emcee and student at Centennial Junior High, represented the middle-aged members.

A sit-down dinner of New York strip steak and marinated fantail shrimp was served to more than 700 people in 40 minutes by the staff of Bullwhip Catering.

The big money came from the live auction of 30 items. A trip for eight to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was the high dollar event for the night, garnering $26,000.

A 1999 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle sold for $17,500 and a print and online advertising package from Star-Tribune Communications sold for $10,100.

The final live auction item of the evening was the funding of the new "Joy of Painting" program for club members at all six locations. That featured attendees bidding amounts ranging from large to small, so that all could contribute.

Ashley Bright, chief professional officer at the club, said $22,500 - enough for the entire art program - was raised.

"That will become a tradition," he said. "Each year, we'll target one program or one specific renovation and people will be able to have ownership of that."

Brian Scott was master of ceremonies and Dan Sullivan was the auctioneer.

PJ Henderson and Christi Bekke co-chaired the event committee, which had as its theme, "Color Their World."

Central Wyoming Boys & Girls Clubs serves children 5 to 18 at permanent facilities in Casper, Glenrock, Douglas and Shoshoni, as well as school satellite sites in Casper.