To all our generous readers who bid in our annual Mercury Online Charity Auction, thanks for making it such a rousing success! With your help, we raised a whopping $23,000 this year for the worthy and extremely necessary local nonprofit OUTSIDE IN, who rescues multitudes of homeless teens and disadvantaged adults with their amazingly helpful outreach programs. (But don't forget! Outside In can always use your help. Visit them at outsidein.org for more info.)

And it wasn't just Mercury readers who ponied up for this great cause! Our online auction would've been a complete flop without wildly generous donations from local businesses, friends, and celebs. Take a second to read over the names below, patronize their businesses, or just give 'em a slap on the back for being awesome. They make Portland a better place to live. Again THANK YOU, and from all of us here at the Mercury, we wish you all the happiest of holidays!