What is the Spring Auction?
The Spring Auction is a fabulous adults-only evening for our parent and neighborhood community to enjoy great food, drink, and the chance to bid on and win some great items. There is a live and silent auction.

The auction is the PTA's largest fundraising event and the monies raised make up about 40% of the entire PTA budget. For this reason, we urge you to participate on every level possible – as a donor, underwriter, volunteer and bidder. Our collective efforts have a huge impact on the quality of our children’s education.

What does the PTA do with the money it raises?
Money raised at the Auction is added to the general PTA fund. Click here for more information about the PTA and its budget.

How do I buy tickets?
We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets online (you will be notified via backpack and email when you are able to do so). Doing so pre-registers you for the event and significantly speeds up your check-in time at the Auction.

For those not able to purchase tickets online, they will be sold at pickup/drop-off starting March 19th.

Tickets cost $30 in advance, or $35 at the door. Food and beverages are included in the ticket price.

What is a "Silent Auction"?
Silent auctions are auctions held without an auctioneer. Using your BidPal bidding device, place your bids on items. When the silent auction ends, the highest bid per item wins!

What is the "Live Auction"?
After the Silent Auction closes, there will be a Live Auction with a professional auctioneer. These are usually our more expensive items, including special events, trips, unique behind-the-scenes opportunities, or other exceptional items.

Are my donations tax deductible?
Yes, the value of the items that you donate is tax deductible. Please be sure you enter your contact information correctly on your donation form so we can send you a receipt for tax purposes after the auction.

Are my purchases tax deductible?
Only the amount above retail value that you pay for an item is tax deductible.

Can I just leave my donation item at the school?
Please don't. There are many items to account for and it is imperative that each item be submitted with a completed donation form.

We can’t help but take this opportunity to encourage you to complete an online donation form. It is super easy and takes minutes to complete.

If have any questions about making a donation, please contact us at donations@ps234.org.

Should I go out and buy items if I don't have anything to donate?
We don't recommend that. Auction items do not generally sell above their retail price. If you do not have an item to donate and still want to help, please consider an underwriting donation instead.

What types of items can I bid on?
The spring auction has something for everyone, no matter what your budget or where your interests lie. What’s more, you can get great gifts for your friends and family, choose a fabulous outing for you and your significant other, or purchase something to give to a client or business partner. Make sure to invite your friends and family to browse our online catalog so you can bid for them too!

Both silent and live auction items will be posted on our website, and about a week before to the auction, we will send a complete list of items up for bid to each home via backpack. Smart bidders, peruse this list carefully and come to the Auction with a plan!

Items typically include: health & beauty products and services, travel tickets and accommodations, wine/dinner gift certificates and products, entertainment opportunities, special events, like dinner in your home cooked by a fabulous chef, sporting event tickets and sports memorabilia, kid’s items, and fashion products and services.

Can I bid any amount?
No, there is a starting bid with set increments for each item, i.e., an item with a retail value of $200 might have a starting bid of $80 with additional bids made in $10 increments.

When will the Silent Auction bidding close?
All bidding opens at 6:30 p.m. and closes at 8:45 p.m.

How and when do I pay for auction items?
When you check in, you’ll be asked if you would like to swipe a credit card to be used in the event you win an item. This is by far the easiest and most secure way to pay for your winnings. Once the silent and live auctions have closed and bids are tallied, you can pick up any items you’ve won without having to wait in line to pay.

The Staff Raffle is one of the highlights of the Auction. Teachers and staff contribute play dates (like picnics or visits to museums) that are raffled off in a live drawing held the day before the Auction. Tickets are $5.00 each and students can enter as many times as they’d like for as many play dates as they want.

A list of available play dates and tickets will be sent home via backpack and email about 3 weeks prior to the auction. Additional tickets can be picked up at the PTA office or downloaded on our website.

Winners are announced at a live drawing to be held Friday, March 30th after pick up in the Common Area.

In coordination with our Class Basket Committee, class parents select a theme and prepare a basket for the auction (e.g., An Afternoon in the Park, A Day at the Beach, Family Movie Night, and Rainy Day Arts & Crafts). Class baskets are jam-packed with fun items and are popular items to bid on – make time to check them out!

The beauty of this event is that there are so many ways to help. You can donate an item or service to be sold at the auction or make a cash donation that helps underwrite the event; volunteer to serve on one of our committees or help out on the event; and most importantly, you can attend the auction and bid! bid! bid!

For more information about volunteer opportunities, click here.