Cliff McDonald, a longtime Lawrence resident and former Kansas University football and basketball player, will be the grand marshal of the 19th annual Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“He’s always a little shy about publicity, but we talked him into it,” said Roger Browning, chairman of the parade committee.

“It’s an honor. I don’t know how you get (selected) or if you don’t have anybody else to do it or anything like that,” McDonald said.

The committee on Thursday made the announcement and revealed a list of some items on the block for the Celebrity and Sports Auction at 6 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Hall.

The auction is the main fundraiser for the committee. This year, the parade and related events will benefit the Douglas County Friends of Children in Foster Care Foundation, the Health Care Access Clinic and the Douglas County Kansas State Research and Extension’s 4-H and Youth Development programs.

Items up for bid Saturday include a dinner for two at the home of KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, a round of golf with KU basketball coach Bill Self, a weekend in St. Louis with four tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals game and dozens of other prizes.

Silent bidding will begin at 6 p.m. and the live auction at 7 p.m. with masters of ceremony Hank Booth, general manager at radio KLZR-FM and KLWN-AM, and Jennifer Schack, a 6News meteorologist.

The committee hopes to raise $45,000 this year, Browning said.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. March 17 at South Park. Parade participants must register by March 9. Applications are available online at www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com or at Cottin’s Hardware and Rental, 1832 Mass., or at McDonald Family Chiropractic at 23rd Street and Haskell Avenue.