MICHAEL PISTELLA American Business Women’s Association members Donna Maul, left, and Jean Nicholson sit in front of the Christmas tree decorated by their group for the ninth annual “Home for the Holidays” fund-raiser.

The Cape Coral Caloosa Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association’s ninth annual “Home for the Holidays,” their largest fund-raiser of the year, kicks off this weekend.

All proceeds raised from Home for the Holidays go toward the ABWA’s education fund, which offers educational programs for its members and donations to scholarships to Edison College, Florida Gulf Coast University, High Tech North and Take Stock in Children.

The 2008 event is a two-week silent auction at two neighboring Taylor Morrison Models in Cape Coral Sandoval located off Veteran’s Memorial Parkway.

The gala opening is Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m., featuring food, entertainment and prizes.

Each room of the homes are decorated with a certain holiday motif, with furnishings donated by local businesses.

“Different vendors give us products, and we put the product in the room and the items go up for auction,” said organizer Donna Maul. “All proceeds go to our education funds.”

Maul has been a member of the ABWA for five years, taking time from her busy schedule working in the travel industry to donate time to the organization and the community.

The homes will be open for the entire two-week timeframe, letting bidders check and recheck on their bids, just in case they need to raise them.

The bidding concludes Nov. 21 for a Last Chance Auction and Dessert Event.

Maul said the ABWA was fortunate that area businesses — including Belk, Pro Interiors, Stephen Todd Home Furnishings and Accents, and Frame Gallery and Gifts — donated the furnishings and decorations for the rooms.

Now the ABWA is hoping the community will be just as supportive and generous, especially during these trying economic times.

“The business community has really stepped up and supported our event,” Maul said. “We just hope the people who want to buy these things will come to the event and support us, too.”

Tickets are $20 per person for the gala opening and the closing events, or just $12 for the closing ceremonies.

This is the first year the event will feature two homes for the holidays, something Maul said enabled the ABWA to feature more goods.

“The main reason we added a house was to have more room,” she said. “Sometimes it gets so crowded it gets difficult. Now there’s more of a chance for people to flow and look at things. It works out great.”

In addition to the auction there will be “touch up days,” with premium makeup provided by Belk, raffle prizes, plus food and entertainment.

For more information on the event, contact Donna Maul at 281-0716.