Annual Benefit Auction
Save the date now for the 2011 Auction - Saturday, April 30th at the St. Charles Country Club
Keep up with Auction plans during the year with the Da Vinci Auction Blog! Click here to see what was in the 2010 Auction Catalog.
What is the Auction and how does it work?
The Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction is one of two major fund raising efforts (along with the Annual Giving Campaign) that provide funds to enhance and expand the school's programs for gifted and talented students. The Auction is the result of a collaborative effort among the Administration, the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Staff, and the Families of the school. The Auction is vital to the continued success and financial stability of Da Vinci Academy, and the following information details how you can help. The Auction is comprised of numerous fund raising components that all serve a purpose in successfully generating support for the school.
The auction in May 2009 raised over $90,000 for Da Vinci, so we thank everyone who attended the event and supported the school.
If you have any questions about the Auction, donating items, purchasing a sponsorship, or reserving ad space, please call the school at 847-841-7532 or send email to auction@dvacademy.org.
Attendance
The Auction is a terrific opportunity for you to make a difference in your child’s education. The key to making this event a success is attendance from our families. The Auction is a wonderful event and we encourage you to bring a guest or two and join us for an enjoyable and worthwhile evening. In the end, everything we do is to benefit our children and to further their education.
Tickets for the 2010 Auction are $100 each, although they can be purchased early for the 2009 price of $75. Ticket prices are discounted for groups of guests or for people who buy tickets for a full table. The more people you bring, the better the discount!
The Silent and Live Auctions
If you would like to donate or help procure an item for the Auction, please download and print the Donor Letter and the Donation Form. Donations to the Auction are tax deductible, and Da Vinci's FEIN # is listed in the Donor Letter.
For ideas on what types of items make good auction donations, read the Auction Donation Wishlist.
The Silent and Live Auctions are the most crucial and most exciting parts of the event. The key to a successful Live and Silent Auction lies in the procurement process. Procuring Auction items involves visiting a business in your area and asking for a donation, donating an item yourself, or using your family and business contacts to secure an item. The majority of the money raised by the Auction comes from these donated items. We pride ourselves in offering desirable quality items that making attending the Auction and bidding on items fun as well as rewarding.
At past Auctions we have offered items such as exotic vacations, ownership of a timeshare, and tickets to theater and sporting events. We always need volunteers to help with this vital part of the Auction. If you prefer to work behind the scenes, we also need volunteers to make follow up phone calls to potential donors and do data entry of items to our Auction Website, all of which can be done from the comfort of your home. We begin procuring Live and Silent Auction items in the fall and welcome all parties to help in this critical aspect of the event.
Sponsorship and Advertising
Running the Auction incurs some degree of expenses, so Event Sponsorship and Catalog Advertising are two ways in which we defray the cost of the Auction by raising funds to cover our expenses.
Sponsorship is a way in which business can promote themselves while directly supporting the Auction. Event Sponsors donate a set amount of money and receive benefits based on sponsorship levels. We acknowledge all our Event Sponsors in printed materials including: the Auction Catalog, Auction Website, and in newspaper publications.
For more information about sponsorship levels and benefits, please download and print the Sponsorship Form.
We sell Advertising space in our Auction Catalog to help defray the cost of printing. Advertisements can range from business cards to full page ads. This is another opportunity for businesses to receive positive promotion while supporting the school. Selling an advertisement opportunity can be as simple as taking a form to your next visit to the dentist, to your accountant, or giving one to the home repair person. If there is a special teacher, team, or student you would like to congratulate, an advertisement in the Catalog is a perfect way to show your support. We will provide a form to each family with instructions and suggested potential advertisers.
For more information about advertising, please download and print the Advertising Letter and the Catalog Advertising Form.
Golden Ticket Raffle
After a successful debut in 2008, the Golden Ticket Raffle returned for the 2010 Auction to provide a fun and easy way for families and friends of Da Vinci to participate in the Auction while generating funds for the school. The "big ticket" items up for grabs this year were a 46-inch Sony HDTV with a Bose sound system, and an Apple iMac. Da Vinci families sell Golden Tickets to friends, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone who would like a chance to win one of these fabulous prizes.
Golden Raffle tickets will be on sale prior to the Auction.
Payment accepted: cash, checks (made out to Da Vinci Academy), Visa, Master Card or American Express. All credit card purchases must be $50.00 or more and the following information is needed to accept a credit card: name on card, address of card holder, phone number, account number, expiration date and amount of purchase.
Fund-a-Project
This is a wonderful way in which families have the opportunity to directly support a specific project that benefits the school. Each year the Administration and Faculty determine which projects will enhance the learning environment of the students and contribute to their overall educational experience at Da Vinci Academy. The Fund-a-Project is a part of the Live Auction and attendees bid dollars directly to the project(s). It is gratifying to know immediately how your donation will be put to use to improve your child’s education.
Past Fund-A-Projects:
- Computers, Technology, and Academic Software
- Math and Science Upgrades
- Classroom storage and library shelving space
- Professional development for the faculty
- Materials for Art and Music
- Equipment for P.E. and Athletic Programs
Class Projects and Centerpieces
Each year we have a group of dedicated parents work with the students to make one-of-a-kind artwork for our Class Projects and Centerpieces. These pieces of artwork are then sold at the Auction. This is a meaningful way for the students to become active participants in the fundraising for their school. These pieces of artwork always reflect the theme of the Auction and are priceless. Please encourage your children to participate in this significant opportunity. While this requires a lot of involvement by our volunteers and coordination with the teachers it is well worth the effort. We are always looking for parents to help execute these projects, so please consider offering your time in this manner.