Leaders with the Douglas County AIDS Project are hoping the organization’s 20th anniversary will give a fundraising boost to the annual Red Ribbon Art Auction.

“We wanted to keep up the momentum and bring the art auction to a different level itself,” said Elena Ivanov, DCAP’s executive director.

The public will get a sneak peek of the art up for bid at the Nov. 8 auction during a preview reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the 1109 Gallery, 1109 Mass.

DCAP is seeking to raise $25,000 from the auction to fund its case management, prevention education and free HIV testing. The auction raised $18,000 last year, and it’s DCAP’s largest annual fundraiser.

For 20 years, the nonprofit agency had provided services in Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties.

According to DCAP’s annual report, it served 59 clients in 2008, and the organization also spoke to 5,045 people in outreach events and presentations.

Laurie Culling will be DCAP’s featured artist for this year’s art auction.

“The auction would not be possible without the generous donations from supporting artists, whose steadfast dedication to this organization ensures those infected and affected by HIV can continue to get quality care free of charge,” Ivanov said.

The Red Ribbon auction will be Nov. 8 at Maceli’s, 1031 N.H. A silent auction begins at 5:30 p.m., and the live auction starts at 7 p.m.

Kansas University political science professor Burdett Loomis and his wife, Michel Loomis, a longtime Central Junior High School teacher, are the hosts for the auction.

Tickets for $35 are available at Maceli’s by calling 785-331-2096, ext. 105. More information about tickets and volunteering for the auction is available at douglascountyaidsproject.org.