By: Seth Johnson

Having worked as an auctioneer at nonprofit events over the past seven-and-a-half years, Matt Newsom finds pure joy in making a difference through his line of work.

“In this crazy world that we live in, I see the best of humanity three to four nights a week throughout the year,” Newsom says. “These are generous people coming together to support causes that are making a difference in the world. So I often find myself leaving an event with a big grin on my face. It’s very satisfying to be able to have an impact with a variety of groups all over the country.”

Slated to work 70 events for nonprofits across 21 states this year, Newsom was initially drawn to be an auctioneer through his involvement with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

“I was diagnosed 15 years ago this month with hairy cell leukemia, which is a rare form of leukemia, and I’ve been in remission since 30 days of treatment thanks to a drug developed by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” Newsom says. “So a year after I was diagnosed, I got involved with LLS, doing peer-to-peer fundraising.”

Newsom continues, “I raised some money doing that, continued to get more involved with LLS, and was invited to go to their big gala. I went, and it was everything you’d expect. It was high-energy, it raised a lot of money, it was a lot of fun, and the auctioneer was mesmerizing to me. I had a blast, went up and spoke to him, and said thank you afterwards.”

After attending several more galas from LLS, as well as other organizations, Newsom had the epiphany that he should be a professional auctioneer for nonprofit events, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I called this auctioneer that I had gotten to know a little bit over the years at the LLS events and said, ‘How do I do this?’ And he said, ‘Matt, I’ve had my eye on you. You’d be fantastic. I am overbooked. Let’s get you licensed, and let’s partner up.’ That was now seven-and-a-half years ago, and I am having the time of my life,” Newsom says.

Over the course of his career as an auctioneer, Newsom has worked galas for a variety of nonprofits from healthcare organizations to pet-based causes. As a matter of fact, it was through Indianapolis-based nonprofit Second Helpings that he was connected with the Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation to work our 2024 Through the Looking Glass Gala on Saturday, Sept. 28.

“I’ve done the Second Helpings event down at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for four years in a row,” Newsom says. “Laura was looking to go in a new direction, and the executive director of Second Helpings said, ‘Oh, you need to call Matt.’” 

Like all the other fundraisers he’s been a part of, Newsom looks forward to helping IBCF raise funds through this year’s Through the Looking Glass Gala to empower youth who are blind or have low vision.

“I tell people it took me until I was 50 years old to figure out what I was supposed to do in this life, but now I’m doing it, and I love it,” Newsom says.