See testimonials for fundraising events, at the Testimonials page at BidFire Auctions & Fundraising
Hon. Terry Craven
Boston CASA
“What can I say about Tom Stebbins? Hire him immediately for your fundraiser before he is booked. This was our very first virtual fundraiser and although we had worked with Tom at a live event in the past, we were very worried about how everything would translate on a virtual platform. He did not miss a beat or a donation. Tom’s energy and enthusiasm was apparent the minute we went live; from introduction to a final very funny farewell. He worked the crowd with a deftness and professionalism that had all of us in awe. Best of all we surpassed our goal because of his expertise. Don’t wait for the gavel to fall and you can’t get him, call and book him now!”
Linda Cummins
Center for Empowerment and Education (CT)
What’s the word for better than the best? Stebbins! I can’t say enough good things about Tom. Evening of your event, he is chock full of energy and humor yet understands the perfect balance of getting serious when it’s time to Fund the Mission. I am 100% certain we raised more funds because of him. Pre event he came to the table with lots of fresh ideas and impactful advice. He is extremely available, informative and creative. He is on top of industry trends. Post event, he is just as helpful offering a thorough debrief. Book him the second you know your event date as he is in high demand. I’d love to keep Tom a secret and just for us but he’s simply to good not to share!
Katie Joy
Oceantic Network
We hired Tom for an industry awards show in November of 2023. Tom was eager to learn more about our community and tailored his delivery to fit our unique crowd. He was professional and brought levity and interest to an otherwise dry program. Tom is not only an excellent emcee, he was a true partner in the production of our event. He brings many years of experience to the table and was able to help us deliver an incredible program. We will continue to work with Tom for future events and give him a full recommendation.
Rob Halpin
MSPCA-Angell
“Commanding, powerful and entertaining—the trifecta of superlatives that is Tom Stebbins! Tom stepped into the role of emcee for the MSPCA-Angell’s annual gala with magnetism and total professionalism and, quite literally, knocked our socks off. Our audience hung on his every word, he expertly navigated the flow of the event—employing perfectly-timed strategies to pull the audience together at key moments—and, most importantly for us, raised a record amount for our live auction. In short: he brought down the house and I can’t recommend him highly enough!”
Kirsten Broschinsky
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
“Tom was an incredible addition to our event. During the live auction, he brought humor and energy that livened everything up and kept everyone engaged. During our fund-a-need, he was able to appropriately bring passion and respect. He took the time to learn about us, our needs, and our mission – and fully delivered. I’ve heard nothing but great feedback from guests, members of our board, and staff. We’ll definitely be having him back!”
Heather Dwyer
Friendship Home
It was pure joy working with Tom Stebbins on our first EVER virtual Happy Hour to raise funds and awareness for Friendship Home. We did this in lieu of our annual gala because we were unable to host a live event due to COVID-19. Tom brought a level of sophistication, humor and professionalism to our event that helped us surpass our $350,000 goal! He made us look good, kept everyone entertained and informed and set the pace for our virtual event. We are so happy that we took a chance with Tom. We came out ahead of our goal and we made a new friend along the way!
Marjorie Madfis
Yes She Can Inc.
“This was our first time running a fund-a-need appeal at our benefit breakfast. I was not sure how our guests would react but we raised twice what I expected. Tom was gracious and engaging and I do not think anyone felt uncomfortable with our ask. He took the time to understand our mission and who our audience would be. He was very supportive of me and made me feel confident that our fund-a-need would be a success. And it was. “
Penny Murphy
25-year President and CEO of the Empire State Society of Association Executives
Most people's expectations for an annual meeting, conference keynote or dinner emcee are pretty low. I know. I listened to such an array over the span of 30 plus years. There was a mix of good to great in that time, but in 2015, I found the SPECTACULAR. Tom Stebbins is both technically and creatively clever. His years with public broadcasting are put to good use as emcee, but it is his confidence, charm and comedy that permeate an otherwise stale event to make it entertaining and memorable. My only complaint is that I couldn't top him in the next year!"
Corinne Christian
Fighting Pretty
“Tom was incredible throughout the process of our event. We brought him in a little over a month before our event and he was able to coach us through some really difficult challenges, giving tips on our auction, event marketing, setting run of show, etc. He researched our organization so that he could represent us well. The night of the event, he was on fire, rallying the crowd, providing a consistent emcee voice throughout the event, and helping us raise more in our auction and paddle pledge that we'd have been able to on our own. He promised he would more than cover his fee, but he truly did so much more.”
Karen Dressel
Corporate Events Professional
"Tom’s energy and humor brightens up any meeting. I'd recommend him to anyone. He will keep your meeting running smoothly, focus on your organizations’ mission, and keep everyone there fully entertained."
Patricia Brussel
Alpine Learning Group
“Thank you Tom for a stellar evening! Our guests loved you! — you kept the night flowing seamlessly — it was our most successful event to date!”
Lindsay Jewett
Best Buddies International
Tom was incredible from the get go. This was the first time we had ventured into using an Auctioneer. And Tom was helpful from the beginning, he used his knowledge to help guide our show flow. He gave us new ideas and added a fresh flavor to our event. This was a third year event and we raised $30,000 more than last year's event. We believe the increase was in part due to Tom and his incredible presentation. We are excited to work with Tom in the future!