Meet our Auctioneer and our MC!

Each week we share something new about our biggest event of the year.

Zan Aufderheide (Our Auctioneer) is one of California’s preeminent fundraising auctioneers and special appeal/fund-a-need experts. Combining over 10 years as a nationally-recognized stand-up comedian with a deep family background in philanthropy, Zan has traveled the country entertaining crowds of up to 2000 people from Los Angeles to NYC. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from UC San Diego's top-ranked MFA Program in Theatre, is a graduate of Reppert School of Auctioneering, and has achieved her Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation from the National Auctioneers Association—a designation which is currently held by fewer than 20 other auctioneers in California.  Zan joined California’s premier benefit auction firm, KLM Auctions, in 2014.

Rene Garcia (Our MC) is just plain funny. He is one of the most entertaining and energetic comedians in the circuit today. He easily maintains a connection with any audience he comes across. Garcia finds humor in social behavior and family issues that everyone sees, but few can put into words. His talent has quickly landed him appearances on MTV Tr3s, NBC's Last Comic Standing, been seen on SHOWTIME on Jeff Garcia's stand up comedy special "The Ten Dollar Ticket", and can currently be seen on Jennifer Lopez’s new channel NUVOtv on the new season of “Stand Up And Deliver”. His comedy can also be heard and is played regularly on SirusXM’s radio network “The Foxx Hole”. His career rises to another level as Rene has been cast in his first feature film which he filmed summer 2014.

Since starting out in Houston,TX back in 1997, Rene now resides in Los Angeles to make his mark on the comedy scene. Rene has almost 15 years experience performing standup comedy in clubs and on television. What makes Rene’s show so unique, is the fact that right away you realize he hits subjects that any race can relate to. His style has labeled him as the Latin Jerry Lewis by his peers and fans alike. “Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as a legend like Jerry Lewis is a great honor”, says Rene. He has worked with acts, such as Kevin Nealon, Tommy Davidson, Ron White, Nick Swardson, Katt Williams, and Bill Bellamy.