Dear Pierce School Parent and Teacher,

April 1 will be the 24rd Annual Pierce School Auction. We are continuing last year’s theme, Spring Thing, and will incorporate some April foolishness as well.

For the kids our gym will house the ‘Carnival Zone’; it is new this year and includes carnival games & prizes, a moonbounce, cotton candy.

For those who are new to the school, the event involves a silent and vocal auction, with items that are valued from $25 to over $1000. We also have a marvelous children’s auction and activities, Chinese food, a bake sale and a “white elephant” sale of used books, sports equipment, toys & games and household items donated by Pierce families, so that everyone goes home feeling like a winner!

Ask anybody who’s participated in the past and you’ll find that this is a fundraiser that’s really fun. So much fun, in fact, that it raised more than $30,000 last year, more than half of the usual PTO budget. That’s money that goes to great things at Pierce like funding scholarships, field trips, enrichment materials, staff development, Math League, Homework Club, and the Writing Center, to name a few.

Of course, this event is only successful because of the enthusiastic involvement of Pierce parents, teachers, students, and our community.

We’re asking each of you to think creatively about donations.

Every year we get terrific donations, since Pierce has amazing parents with a huge and interesting variety of incredible skills and connections. Our families also come from many countries and cultures with traditions to share, and many professions and hobbies that others value. So, start thinking.

• What trade or skill do you have that you’d be willing to donate?
• Maybe you’re a computer whiz or dessert baker, a seamstress, artist or the best snow shoveler this side of the Mississippi.
• Maybe you know celebrities - someone in entertainment, or an artist, a professional athlete, or a hotel or restaurant owner.
• Tickets to concerts, plays and sporting events always bring in good bids, as do memberships to organizations like the MFA, the Appalachian Mountain Club, etc. (and don’t forget to add that matching hat or tee shirt to go with your gift)
• Restaurant gift certificates are always a favorite.

Think about your own skills, who you know, and encourage other families you know at Pierce who have great talents but may be too modest to offer them. Thinking outside the box will get us more unique donations and that will mean more money for our school.

Here are some of the donations that have been popular in the past. Use them as a guide, but don’t let them limit you.

• Celtics Tickets, Red Sox Tickets
• Jewelry, Art Works by local artisans
• A week or weekend at a vacation home/condo (Wellfleet, Vermont, Maine)
• Gourmet Dinners – and fine wines
• Consulting from architects, landscapers, personal organizers
• Bicycles, skis, furniture (in good condition)
• Any kind of makeover, fitness or beauty service

You can also make a donation of gently used toys, books and sports equipment. Jewelry, picture frames, knit items, and handcrafted clothing are all great sellers at our boutique area. No clothes or stuffed animals, however.

You can also donate your time. Please take a look at the attached sheet for volunteer opportunities. There are dozens. And we promise you’ll have fun in the process. Your child (children) may also be asked for a donation for a class basket. You may want to help with that as well.

Donation drop off

Drop off donations outside the main office 8:00-8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – March 1,2,3 Monday, Tuesday – March 6 & 7 Thursday, Friday – March 16 & 17 Tuesday, Thursday - March 28 & 30

Lastly, make sure to come to the Auction!

And let your friends and neighbors know about it. Bring your grandparents and other extended family. It’s at the Pierce Cafeteria, Saturday, April 1 from 2:00p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Get into the bidding, take home some great stuff and have a good time, too.

Please complete the attached form and return it to school with your child or place it in the auction box outside the main office by Friday, February 17, the day before winter vacation.

We know this year’s Auction will be our most successful yet. If you have any questions, please email debhall@rcn.com or call 617-739-0607. Better yet, think about joining us. We’re always looking for new ideas to improve an already great event and our meetings will be noted in the Broadsheet.

Thank you,

Debra Hall, Co-chair
Pierce Auction Committee