Tradition of School Auctions a Continued Success

The longstanding tradition in Acton of elementary-school fundraising by way of annual auctions in March recently wrapped, with participating schools reporting successful events while one,, is opting for a change from its usual.

annual auction, held at the Marriott SpringHill Suites in Devens, “exceeded expectations,” said Vanessa Volinsky, senior co-chair of the school’s parent-teacher organization (PTO).

Attended by some 120 parents, this year’s event featured donations ranging from “gift certificates to (pizza) to a timeshare in Thailand. It was really all over the board in terms of what we got,” said Volinsky.

Other items donated by parents and area businesses included sports memorabilia, park and museum passes, karate and martial arts classes and voice lessons. And according to Volinsky, some of the most popular auction “items” were donations of time and sentiment, such as “teacher time,” in which teachers and staff members take winning bidders on various excursions, and student art collaborations from each classroom.

While funds generated from the auctions and other PTO fundraisers vary to some extent, common to each school is the major beneficiary of the auctions—teaching assistants and other school aides.

According to the Gates School’s website, the annual auction is the most significant fundraiser for the school, with proceeds largely funding the salaries for over 50 teacher assistant hours, as well as librarian and technology assistant hours, and cultural events during the year.

“It’s by far the biggest and most important fundraiser for the PTO,” said Volinsky, adding that some smaller fundraisers during the year include a gift wrap sale and a book fair.

Organizers of Merriam School’s recent auction deemed it also a success, with some 185 tickets sold to parents as well as several staff and teachers, said auction co-chair Kristen Rivard.

Also held last month at the Devens Marriott, the event is “a long-term commitment, a lot of work, and a lot of fun” for organizers, said Rivard, who also coordinated the business donations solicited for the event.

Merriam auction items ranged in a way that Tina Hamilton, auction volunteer and past auction chair, said “makes it really fun. (Attendees) can go and just buy raffle tickets if they want to, but there are also some really great items to bid on if they feel like spending their money.”

Teacher activities were also popular items for Merriam parents, with such donations of time ranging from “basketball with the principal” to an evening of flashlight tag, to be held at the school and facilitated by several teachers. As well, each student designed an origami creation to be part of a class collage, all of which were sold in an online auction that preceded the larger event, said Rivard.

Proceeds from Merriam’s auction are used solely to help fund the school’s teaching assistants, with last year’s takings fully funding a third of the school’s 24 positions, according to the school’s website.

“Having teaching assistants in each class is something (Acton schools) take a lot of pride in,” said Rivard.

A newer addition to auction fundraising for Merriam is an online camp auction in January, in which area day and overnight summer camps such as Concord Academy and Hybid Farm donate weeks for parents to bid on. Separating the camp auction from the larger one in March “is a way that gives families time to plan,” said Hamilton, who chairs it.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Oddsund, president of Conant’s PTO, said that while previous auctions for that school had “done very well,” feedback from parents indicated that many were interested in a fundraising event that was more family-focused. As such, she said, organizers conceptualized a “Family FunFest” to be held at the school in June.

“It’s an idea that grew from the thought that we have a large outdoor space (at the school), so what could we do that would be fun and would get families to come out?” said Oddsund.

Oddsund said organizers also incorporated elements from past auctions at other recent events, including at the school’s popular ice cream social, where families bid on class gifts as well as on teacher activities. What’s more, said Oddsund, a recent cocktail reception held at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough to commemorate the school’s 40^th anniversary incorporated the live-auction component of the previous auctions, with “six or seven items up for bid.”

“We just felt it was time to take a different approach,” said Oddsund.

In addition to funding teaching assistants, said Oddsund, proceeds from Conant’s PTO fundraisers contribute to efforts that include various cultural enrichment programs, the school’s author program, and “scholarships” for students who need “help attending field trips, school supplies, and other support.”