Auction organizers are getting ready for the April 1 event at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, and they have high hopes that Van Hoesen's painting will fetch a lot of interest. Van Hoesen is a junior majoring in art at UC-Berkeley and a linebacker on the Cal football team.

"I want to give back to the school and help out as much as possible. They helped me get to the next level," Van Hoesen said.

Athletics were a big part of Van Hoesen's four years at Saratoga. In addition to football, he also competed in basketball, baseball, wrestling and track. Sports provided him with many good memories, he said.

To do the painting of Lott, Van Hoesen looked at a collection of photographs and selected one of Lott running while holding a football. The painting is currently hanging in a student art show at Berkeley, but Van Hoesen hopes to have Lott sign the artwork before the auction.

"I'm surprised that he agreed to sign it," Van Hoesen said. "I think he'll like it."

Mark Linsky, co-chairman of the live auction, was thrilled Van Hoesen was willing to help his alma mater. He is an example of the well-rounded student that the boosters would like to celebrate, he said.

"Greg is an incredible role model," Linsky said. "He is a great academic student, a great artist and a great individual."

Organizers hope the event, which will have both a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing, will interest community members and alumni who are curious to know how sports are going at the high school.

They wanted to make available different types of items that haven't been showcased in past auctions, and Van Hoesen's painting is their highest-profile item. About half of the auction items will be things that haven't been offered before, said Paula Thoren, chairwoman of this year's auction.

Other items up for bid include opportunities to use a vacation home, a cooking class at the Professional Culinary Institute in Campbell, a 7-inch sapphire bracelet and a Sharks hockey game jersey signed by the team.

Athletics can teach many lessons that last past high school, but the school needs help, parents say. They already pay $150 for each sport their child participates in. That money goes to pay for sports awards, game officials and transportation for athletes, but other costs still remain. Funds generated by the sports boosters pay for 35 percent of sports-related expenses that are not covered by the school or participation fees, Thoren said.

"If not for us, we wouldn't have any [equipment]. The cost of doing sports would be prohibitive," she said.

The goal for this year's auction is to raise $100,000. The auction is the boosters' major fundraiser.

The boosters support all sports programs at the high school, including the spirit squad made up of the cheerleaders and song girls. Besides paying for equipment, it also contributes money to maintain fields and renovate facilities.

"People are frequently surprised to learn that the fees paid to the school do not include the cost of uniforms, the salaries of assistant coaches and the salary of the trainer, all of which are paid by the boosters," said boosters president Chuck Sabes.

Tickets are $120. This year's event will be from 6 p.m. to midnight on April 1 at Villa Ragusa, 35 S. Second St. in Campbell. For more information, contact Paula Thoren at 408.867.9121.