Shop for a good cause at TPA Silent Auction

The annual TPA Silent Auction offers convention attendees a unique shopping experience and an opportunity to contribute to Texas Center for Community Journalism programs for new and mid-career community journalists.

The silent auction is part of the 2025 TPA Convention and Trade Show June 19-21 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. 

The trade show features dozens of booths where vendors from throughout the newspaper and printing industries display and demonstrate their products and services.

Auction items will be on display in the Trade Show hall beginning Thursday evening, June 19, during the opening reception hosted by trade show sponsor eType Services.

Bidding on the silent auction and the trade show will open again Friday morning, June 20, during the trade show hours. Bidding ends at 11:15 a.m. Friday, when winning bidders will be able to make their payments and collect their items.

Items of all kinds have made past auctions popular and successful, including collectibles and home décor items; sports paraphernalia and memorabilia; regional culinary treats and local agricultural products such as Texas-grown olive oil, honey, wine and spirits; books and historical items; newspaper-themed fashion accessories; and beautiful wall art.

It’s a chance for members to show off wares from their communities as well as a chance for buyers to sample the culture of other Texas regions.

In coming weeks photos of donations will be featured on social media as a preview for shoppers.

Donors are encouraged to send photos to Candace Velvin at cvelvin@texaspress.com or Sue Brown at sbrown@texaspress.com.

Donating and purchasing items at the auction helps support the Texas Newspaper Foundation’s primary mission: mid-career training for newspaper journalists, photographers and designers, often in conjunction with the Texas Center for Community Journalism at Tarleton State University. The foundation also sponsors the annual Texas Newspaper Hall of Fame. A new member will be honored in the annual induction ceremonies and banquet immediately following the auction.

Members may send their auction item donations to Sue Brown or Mike Hodges at TPA or bring them to the conference on Thursday, June 19. For more information about donating and about shipping items to TPA, contact Hodges at mhodges@texaspress.com or 512-477-6755 or Brown at sbrown@texaspress.com.

Convention registration forms and information, including hotel room rates and registration deadline, are available now on the TPA website. Participants may register online (credit cards accepted) or download registration forms to send to TPA with payment.