This amazing auction has been Ordway’s BIGGEST fundraiser accounting for

nearly 70% of the PTO’s annual budget.

WE NEED YOU to make this year’s auction a success. We are just parents, like you, who are working hard to help Ordway.  With district cuts and tight budgets, the auction’s proceeds will be needed now, more than ever.  This is a festive and informal event meant to bring our community together.   The Auction items are outstanding, but your attendance is what makes it work.

What can you do to help? Here are some ways:

Plan to attend the Auction – It will be a GREAT NIGHT OUT! The party will be centrally located by the circle on Madison and High School Road at St. Cecilia’s Conger Hall. Enjoy great food and drink as you listen to music, chat with friends, and enjoy the opportunity to shop for unique items and experiences. Tickets are $32.00 per person.   Bainbridge Island Boys & Girls Club will be offering limited baby sitting services that night for a fee.  Prepayment and preregistration are required.    

Donate to the Auction – Big or small, get creative, everything counts.
(See below for donation ideas.)

Match Funds or Corporate Sponsorship – Team up with your company and double the donation to Ordway through Matching Fund programs.  Or, get your company to underwrite some of our auction expenses!

WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO? Have you been to the library lately?  The PTO has helped pay for some major improvements and additions including moveable shelves and lower shelving that make the books more accessible for the children and eliminates blind spots. Stop by and see the new Media Center too!

The PTO also funds Teacher’s Grants:

Functional Academics Classroom – Pix Writer, Touch Window and software

Equipment--Smart Boards for upper grade classrooms helping to energize presentations and motivate learners plus digital cameras and CD players for use in special projects, presentations and audio instruction

Enrichment - Young writers conference

Special Guests – Poets, Dramatic Arts Specialists, an Oral Tradition Storyteller

Curriculum - materials and curriculum for science kits

These are just a few of the ways PTO funds help Ordway provide an excellent education for our children.

So, start bringing in donations and put it on your calendar to join us on February 28th.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Cawman

at 842-3512 or Hadley Hill at 253-238-7938.

DONATION IDEAS

This year’s auction theme is based on the beautiful song by Louis Armstrong. With all that is going on in the world these days, we thought it was a good time for us to step back and appreciate what we have – especially our families and our beloved Ordway community.

We need a LOT of donations this year to meet our goals in this challenging economy.  What can you donate?  Here are some ideas:

Wine Donation Program – Please click HERE for more information on this exciting new opportunity!  These packages are sure to be popular!

Services – This is an area where anyone can contribute easily and the services are great sellers. Legal advice, music lessons, kids party helper/planner, babysitting, photography, computer help, craft parties, cooking. Are you a musician? You could donate your time to play at the event.

Home and Garden – Decorator services and items, window boxes, planters, landscaping, weeding, deck furniture, power washing, gutter cleaning, window washing, house cleaning, farm fresh eggs or produce.

Finer Things – Art, Jewelry, Antiques, Hand Knit items. If you aren’t an artist, do you know a local artist who might donate some work?

Indulgences - Spa visits and services, gourmet gift baskets, themed country baskets (Italy, China, etc.), kid’s book or toy baskets, wine baskets, chocolate treats.

Night Out – Restaurant gift certificates, theatre tickets, sporting events, Symphony or Opera Tickets, movie vouchers.

Travel and Leisure – Vacation homes, airline miles, condo stays, boat trips, hotel nights, ski passes, museum and attraction passes (SAM, Zoo, Aquarium, Pacific Science Center, etc.)

Unique Experiences – Do you know someone famous? Would you host a dinner party or poker night at your house? How about a Middle Eastern night with belly dancing and henna tattooing? Are you willing to deliver a cooked dinner or desert? Do you know an author who could auction off the name of a character after someone’s child? Can you teach an improv, acting, or writing class? Do you know someone who owns a winery or brewery who would donate a tasting session? No idea is too big or too small!

Please submit your donations as soon as possible!  Simply fill out the attached 2009 Auction Procurement Form.docx and either mail it or drop it by the Ordway office. We will arrange to get your item or prepare your display once we get the form. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Cawman at 842-3512 or Hadley Hill at 253-238-7938. 

Together we can make this year’s auction a great success for Ordway Elementary!