For the first time in the event’s 38-year history, the Long Beach Island Rotary Club’s Holiday Auction, held Thursday, Dec. 7 at The Mainland Holiday Inn in Manahawkin, exceeded $100,000 in funds raised for community causes.

About $105,000 was the grand sum, according to auction chair Bob Stohrer, who explained the organizing committee works hard every year to make the fundraising gala a memorable, Christmas-y, “wow” experience.