Bidding for the annual Tim Cook lunch auction closed today and the winning bid stands at a cool $200,000, which goes to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.
Even though there were more than twenty bids, with the starting bid beginning at $10,000, the fundraiser has actually earned less this year than previous auctions held in 2013 and 2014, probably due to a shift in CharityBuzz’s authentication policy to better prevent false bids.
The annual auction broke records in 2013 when it raised $610,000 for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. In 2014, the auction ended at $330,001.
“As CEO, Cook has overseen the introduction of other innovative new Apple products and services as well, including iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple Pay, as well as the Apple Watch,” reads the press release.
“He is leading a companywide effort to use 100 percent renewable energy at all Apple facilities, has encouraged his co-workers to give to charitable organizations in their community and started a generous program at Apple to match employee donations.”
The auction winner, and one additional person of their choosing, will get to enjoy lunch with Cook on Apple’s Cupertino campus scheduled at a mutually agreed upon date, with the cost of lunch being included in the auction price.
Today’s winner also gets to be Cook’s VIP guest at an Apple keynote event. Travel and accommodations are not included. The prize can’t be resold or re-auctioned.
Click here for a cool infographic showing just how much $200,000 is worth.
Tim Cook’s 2013 auction experience that raised $610,000 remains one of the highest grossing auctions on Charitybuzz.com since the company launched in 2005.
Other Apple executives have participated in charity fundraisers through CharityBuzz, including Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, Eddy Cue and Beats Music’s Ian Rogers.
Source: CharityBuzz