HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- It all started with an eighth grader's desire to get an autographed photo from his favorite rock star, Red Hot Chili Pepper's frontman Anthony Kiedis, and has since developed into an impressive collection of memorabilia.
Joe Greve, 17, and a junior at Mayfield High School, has amassed hundreds of signed photos and other mementos from stars of screen and athletic fields of play. He is now parting with 70 of those treasures, items of which he has doubles, for the benefit of the Mayfield City Schools.
Greve, the son of Highland Heights' Dan and Jolene Greve, is donating items to be auctioned at the Second Annual Green Tie Gala to be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. The gala will feature several auctions, the proceeds of which (like the gala) will benefit the district's arts programs. Greve's auction, however, is deemed a special auction, according to event co-chair Jane Osler, also of Highland Heights.
That's because Greve's contribution of auctioned items is expected to draw extra interest from bidders.
What has Greve put forth for auction?
There are autographed photos and other artifacts from TV and movie actors such as Ed Asner, Tim Allen, James Franco, Chris Cooper, Bob Newhart, Tom Selleck, Jeremy Irons, Ben Kingsley, Elle and Dakota Fanning, Christopher Plummer, Dustin Hoffman, Jennifer Hudson, and Pat Sajak and Vanna White.
Sajak and White also contributed for auction tickets to a taping of their game show, "Wheel of Fortune."
From the world of sports, signed objects will be up for auction from Dirk Nowitzki; Phil Mickelson (an autographed flag from the 2010 Master's tournament, which Mickelson won, valued at an estimated $500-$850); Joe Thiesmann; Darrell Waltrip; Jim Tressel; and Jeff Van Gundy.
In all, 70 pieces from Greve's collection will be auctioned at the gala.
"It started back in the eighth grade when I wanted to get an autograph of my inspiration, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers," Greve recalled.
Kiedis didn't write back."
Greve didn't let that rejection deter him. He soon mailed a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch compact disc booklet to actor Mark Wahlberg, and got it back signed. Jim Tressel then signed a photo and returned it in six days.
Greve was off and rolling with his new hobby.
A lot of effort goes into securing autographed memorabilia. Greve searches online for mailing addresses of the famous. He has come to develop a knowledge of all of the nuances of the hobby.
"Joe is an avid fisherman," said his father, Dan, "and I liken this to fishing. Joe is persistent, knows the right celebrities who will sign things and who will send them back, and knows how to go about getting what he looking for."
For the Green Tie Gala, Greve has had many items authenticated via the service Global Authentics. Other items Greve is sure, through his experience, are authentic.
"Some people are known to auto-pen their signatures, and some use machines or secretaries," Greve said of celebrities.
Dick Van Dyke, for example, is a difficult authentic autograph to obtain, Greve said. His secretary is known to sign his photos for him, but Greve knew how to get just what he wanted by asking that the secretary not sign.
The Van Dyke signature isn't up for auction. Neither are others of which Greve has only a single item.
"I'm keeping my Phil Collins, Newt Gingrich, Craig T. Nelson and Howard Stern (photos)," he said.
In 2014, Greve sent a copy of Donald Trump's book "How to Get Rich" to its author. Trump signed the book in gold ink, and then later sent Greve an autographed photo, meaning he now has two autographs of the President of the United States.
For the gala, Greve took on the task of making 322 requests of stars and got back 90, including a 2016 Major League Baseball All Star Game package in a handsome carrying bag that contained two autographed photos of baseball Commissioner Ron Manfred.
When asked why he wanted to help the gala, without anyone asking him to do so, Greve said, "My school district is turning me into a high-functioning student and preparing me for my future, and I wanted to give something back."
As he continues on with his hobby, Greve said, obtaining an autographed photo of Kiedis remains his goal.
"I think it's amazing," Osler said of Greve's efforts. "For a young gentleman to take the time like this to help the school district is truly, truly special."
Osler is co-chairing the event for the second straight year with her sister, Highland Heights resident Therese Razzante.
Those who would like to attend the Green Tie Gala can get more information at mayfieldschools.org. Tickets, which are available only through advance registration, cost $125 per person, and $250 per couple. Included are dinner, prizes, keepsake photos and more.
The deadline to purchase tickets is Feb. 6.
Last year, the event attracted 300 people and raised $62,000 for the Mayfield School District's STEM program and new Innovation Center.
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