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Books 'n Blues silent auction, party raise $15,134 for CIS -- By just about any standard, Greenwood's first Books 'n Blues festival was a resounding success. As fund-raising events, though, the silent auction and after party made a clear and unequivocal bottom-line statement: They raised $15,134, according to Linda Whittington, executive director of Communities in Schools, to which the proceeds will be distributed. "We are very, very pleased with that," said Whittington. "It was such a good party, and people had a wonderful time." An crowd estimated at 300 to 400 people attended the silent auction and book signing held Saturday night at Viking Range Corp.'s Training Center in downtown Greenwood. Half the money raised Saturday night will benefit CIS' work with at-risk youth in Leflore County. The other half, Whittington said, will help with education-related expenses associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The authors traveled at their own expense and donated all sales of their books Saturday night to CIS. Even more important than the money raised, Whittington said, was the caring attention given by the writers. "We had 23 authors - national, regional and local authors - who came into Greenwood," she said. "That was the important thing that came out of it."
