College portrait goes full circle; helps raise funds for Tioga United Way

When Meredith Sagor drew a larger than life portrait of herself 10 years ago, she never thought she’d see it at auction. She especially never thought it would be the newest conversation piece in the business that her family started, the Styling Corner in Owego.  

Meredith drew her likeness for a college art class in 2009. Not keen on keeping her own face for her personal art collection, she gifted it to her uncle, Dave Woodburn, as a laugh. Woodburn displayed it in his office until he retired and eventually brought it home where it stayed.

That is until early July when Meredith’s jaw dropped at the sight of her uncle walking fashionably late into the Owego Moose Lodge to auction it off to the public during a fundraiser for the Dancing United with the Starz event, a fundraiser for Tioga United Way.

Meredith is a member of the 10 teams competing in this year’s Dancing United with the Starz, and as part of the competition, Meredith and the other contestants are competing for Judge’s Choice by dancing their best, as well as People’s Choice by raising the most money.  

To do this Meredith hosted a trivia night and auction at the lodge in July where her uncle surprised her. He said himself, if the portrait doesn’t go for at least $50 he would buy it back for that price. After a bidding war led by auctioneer Adam Cole of Cole Auctions, Dave was able to drive the price up to $105 when it was sold to Lori Jackson, who was bidding for the Styling Corner.

“He did whatever he had to do to raise money,” Meredith said with a laugh. 

Dancing Untied with the Starz is the Tioga United Way’s largest fundraiser of the year where community members are partnered with dance instructors to compete at Tioga Downs. This year’s event will be Nov. 2 at Tioga Downs. In the past the event has raised over $100,000 to be spread among the 34 agencies of the Tioga United Way. 

In order to compete, Meredith said, teams must raise $1,500 in donations. Meredith met that goal at her trivia night, and is now going for the People’s Choice Trophy by raising the most money. 

They Styling Corner bought the portrait for a few reasons: to support Meredith’s fundraising, but also for the story. Lori Jackson has already had customers ask about the large portrait hanging on the wall of the salon, which she told the story amid her own giggles. 

“That was the most fun we’ve had spending $105 in one night,” Jackson said. 

Meredith’s team will be hosting a dinner in order to raise more money for Dancing United with the Stars. The dinner is set for Aug. 8 at the Moose Lodge in Owego.