Money Can Buy You . . .

For the past 32 years, Vineyarders and summer visitors have had the opportunity every August to purchase otherwise “unbuyable” experiences at the celebrated , the primary fundraiser for Martha's Vineyard Community Services (MVCS).

Past dreams have included tennis with Mike Wallace, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with David McCullough, a Ghostbusters set tour with Dan Aykroyd, a sail with Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols and, probably the most famous dream of all, a private meeting with Carly Simon in which she whispered in the top bidder's ear her : the identity of the subject of her hit song “You're so Vain.”

The 33rd annual Possible Dreams Auction, to be held on Monday, August 1, in , Oak Bluffs, will feature around 50 dreams—a number of new ones, along with some of the most lucrative ones from the past— and a new line-up of hosts.

Alex Friedman of Plum TV and MVY radio's Laurel Redington will act as emcees. They will be joined by professional auctioneer Daniel J. Flynn of Quincy. For 26 years, Pulitzer Prize–winning newspaper columnist Art Buchwald officiated at the annual event. Since his death in 2007, the auction committee has recruited new hosts every year. Says Diann Ray, auction committee co-chair, “Keeping in the spirit of the auctions hosted by Art, we're sure that Alex, Laurel and Dan will continue with the humor, wit and excitement—as well as the local flavor—that has exemplified the Possible Dreams Auction for years.”

The pre-auction festivities will include music by the Beetlebung Steel Band. Thirteen-year-old Darby Patterson of Vineyard Haven will provide the opening song, and a post-auction dinner will feature music by Joanne Cassidy and Wes Nagy. Tickets for the dinner, with food by Jaime Hamlin and Sons, are $300. This year Marc Brown, author of the popular Arthur books, will be honored at the auction. He is a long-time supporter of Community Services and has donated a dream for many years.

Stepping forward this year to add his name to the list of Possible Dreams luminaries, Pulitzer Prize– and three-time Tony-award winning director James Lapine will accompany the top bidder and a guest to a production of a show by his oft-times collaborator Steven Sondheim in New York, followed by dinner at the exclusive Rao's restaurant, whose reputation and small size make it virtually impossible to secure a reservation.

Celtic fans will be given a first-time opportunity to have lunch with head coach Doc Rivers. Famed comedian Tim Conway, best known for his roles on “McHales's Navy” and “The Carol Burnett Show,” and comedian/impressionist Louise Duart will invite two lucky guests backstage at one of the shows on their nationwide tour.

There will be a good selection for sports fans. A Bruins dream will include four loge seats, a locker room visit and a Zamboni ride. A Red Sox package will feature seats in the owner's suite with Alan Dershowitz and Red Sox vice chairman David Ginsberg. For non-Boston fans, there are Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Capitals dreams, as well as the opportunity to be a NY Knicks ball boy.

The auction will also include two new “adventure” dreams: Two days and one night on the aircraft carrier USS Kennedy in the South Pacific, and a simulated dog fight on a fighter jet. The popular guided tour through prehistoric caves of Paris with noted archaeologists Duncan Caldwell will be offered again this year. 

Auction co-chair Wiet Bacheller says, “We feel very pleased with the well-rounded mix of dreams this year. As well as our big dreams, we also have some very locally oriented dreams for the lightning round. We want to give everyone something to bid on. And, most of all, we want it to be fun for bidders and spectators alike.”

Martha's Vineyard Community Services is celebrating its 50th year of providing essential services to Islanders in need. The Possible Dreams Auction has raised more than $8.5 million in its first 32 years, with proceeds going toward unfunded care provided by five programs (CONNECT to End Violence, Early Childhood Programs, Island Counseling, Disability Services and the Thrift Shop). Says MVCS executive director Julia Burgess, “The community has always been very supportive of us and this year, we need the support more than ever. The Possible Dreams Auction has traditionally been a very successful and popular fundraiser and I'm optimistic for this year. We have some great items and a wonderful team of hosts."

A complete list of auction experiences can be seen here.