DANVILLE — From sports tickets to massages, the Peer Court program will offer a little bit of everything at its annual fundraising auction. The auction is set for Friday at Turtle Run Banquet Center, 332 E. Liberty Lane. An auction preview will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 each and can be purchased ahead of time or at the door.

Paul Sermersheim is executive director of the Peer Court program. He said the auction brings in almost 25 percent of the budget revenue for the program, which receives no state funding and only minimal local funding.

The auction has grown in recent years as businesses and groups from throughout the area donate gift baskets, local art and gift certificates for the auction.

“I guess first it’s become fun and casual,” Sermersheim said. “We really do have something for just about everyone.”

He pointed out anybody can get in on the bidding since prices can range from just $30 to up to $1,300, depending on the item.

“You don’t have to drop a couple hundred dollars to buy something at our auction,” Sermersheim said.

A 50-50 drawing also will be conducted at the evening auction.

In recent years, the items of interest have included such things as a ride in a two-seat World War II plane and a hand-made mink Teddy Bear.

This year, the unique items include hand-made chairs from the Building Trades class at Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School and a backyard greenhouse kit from International Greenhouse Co. in Tilton

Katie Osterbur, associate director of the Peer Court program, said University of Illinois basketball and football tickets are also up for bid, as well as tickets to a Chicago Cubs baseball game. A spa basket including massages from Body Health and Healing also will go on the auction block, as well as rounds of golf donated by Harrison Park in Danville and Hubbard Trail north of Rossville.

“Each year it does get bigger,” Osterbur said. “The number of people who are willing to donate is unbelievable.”

She said many businesses and organizations return year after year to donate again to the auction. Vermilion County Quilters and Danville Art League and Alley Gallery — all of which have donated pieces — are among the returning participants.

The Peer Court program, a United Way agency, has worked with first-time juvenile offenders in Vermilion County for more than 15 years, teaching the youths to take responsibility for their actions. Through a court/jury scenario of their peers, the offenders are sentenced to community service, apologies, essays and other penalties intended to improve the youths’ choices in life.

Sermersheim said the importance of the Peer Court program lies not only in teaching the lessons taught juvenile offenders, but also in the future savings Peer Court provides.

“People understand you can spend a couple of dollars and invest in our program and save the community thousands in the future,” he said, adding reformed juvenile offenders do not create expenses in probation, the courts and police.

“A little investment in youth court can go a long way,” Sermersheim said, adding that 83 percent of the juveniles involved in Peer Court “have learned their lesson.”