Veterans Park Community Comes Together For Successful Auction

Twenty minutes before the start of Veterans Park Elementary School’s “Reach for the Stars” fundraiser, Silver Springs Country Club was already alive with committee members who hoped to raise $30,000 for the benefit of student enrichment.

Committee chair Kathleen DeLuca welcomed early attendees with a smile and an invitation to tour the rooms filled with about 200 auction items. Her fellow committee members, Meredith Thrutchley, Laurie Kanchet and Meg Hogan, prepared to hand guests their auction numbers and spoke about the coming auction.

“I went to [an auction] two years ago and figured I would get involved this year,” DeLuca said. Her preparation began seven months ago when she and fifteen committee members passed out flyers, contacted every member of the community they could think of and had one-on-one discussions.

“It was nice to see how receptive people were,” she said of the committee that raises money for art, science, and athletic programs that the school district does not currently fund. “I hope everyone really enjoys themselves -- we are here to help the school. We definitely don’t want to see it close. We want to keep the spirit alive."

As guests entered, they were handed their auction number and invited to purchase drink tickets prior to browsing the auction items. Beads were sold to guests wanting to enter the “Heads or Tails” contest funded by Fairfield County Bank. The prize was a new iPad 2, purchased at the crack of dawn by committee members on Apple’s online store.

Donations were made by members of the community, parents, teachers and students. One of the items that is popular each year is a bookshelf with books that students donate.

“The students bring in their favorite books and add it to the shelf,” DeLuca said. “Everyone seems to like it.”

Jim and Robin Brown, parents of a first grader at Veterans Park, browsed a table of items created by the children of the school.

“This is our first time," Robin Brown said. “We are excited to be with all of our friends and meet new people."  

Jim Brown proudly pointed out the work of his daughter’s class.

“We are definitely bidding on this!” Robin said.  

They were not the only parents excited about the funds going to the school.

“I really trust the PTA to allocate the funds properly,” said parent Morgan Cotter. “They do a really good job.”

Parents who were not able to attend the event still have the opportunity to contact the school and purchase their child’s item.

Besides the ceramic coasters that the Browns' Emily had made in Ms. Gamache’s class, several other hand-made items were set out for parents to browse. Glass coasters, individual portraits drawn by students and cookbooks were among the items on which parents were proud to bid.

After entering the first room with the students’ work, attendees were able to browse tables showcasing gift certificates to the Little Pub, two weeks at Camp Waziyatah in Waterford, Maine, a birthday party at World Championship Taekwondo, five pilates classes at Pilates Barre, a cruise on the New York Harbor, $100 towards Chez Lenard catering, artwork created by parents and teachers, Yankees tickets, wine baskets and more.

In all, there were two-hundred auction items at the event. Eight items were included in a live auction.

Although the event took place Saturday evening, the auctioning began online last Tuesday. If the attendees did not outbid online participants, the item went to the bidder who initially pursued the item earlier in the week.

The reason for starting the auction online was to not only to build awareness and get community members excited, but to allow “people from other locations to bid on the items,” DeLuca said.

“I support the school in any endeavor,” said Sue Goff, the school's music teacher. “It’s great to see so many people came out.”

One-hundred and ninety-two guests were expected at the event -- even with several guests arriving early, committee members were still welcoming last-minute attendees an hour after the event began. 

With the atmosphere lively and to the sound of Gabriela Stastny's violin, guests enjoyed food catered by the country club, the company of their friends and colleagues and a shard willingness to help out Veterans Park.

The event was a success according to Maria Raduazzo, finance chair of the committee.

“Everyone has been incredibly generous with their time,” Raduazzo said. “Everyone has come together for the kids.”