FAQ - Auction
What is the purpose of the Auction?
What are the goals of this year’s Auction?
Where do the Auction proceeds go?
How can I make a donation or purchase advertising in the Auction catalog?
What shall I donate to the Auction?
Do you have any class project ideas?
How do I purchase tickets to the Auction or receive a catalog?
What is the Auction?
The annual St. Thomas More Cathedral School (STM) Auction is a fundraiser wholly undertaken by the parent community in support of the school. The Auction is an adult-only event that includes food, beverages, and silent and live auction events. Each year, the Auction Committee chooses a theme for the festivities; the 2011 STM Spring Auction theme is “Opening Night on Broadway” and the event is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Burke Hall (church basement).
What is the purpose of the Auction?
The Auction serves the following purposes:
1. This is an opportunity to raise money. The funds raised are considerable and are of great benefit to our school.
2. This is an opportunity for all parents, alumni, faculty, and parishioners to build community, engage in fellowship, and to celebrate our common interest in the education of our children.
What are the goals of this year’s Auction?
With operating expenses rising, it is more critical than ever to maximize our auction’s success. This, in turn, will help hold down the cost of tuition and contribute to the growth of STM. Therefore, we have defined the following goals to make this year’s auction as successful as possible:
1. Increase attendance.
2. Solicit and procure more items and services for offering at the Auction events.
To this end, we are asking that each STM family donate an item for the Auction. Many ideas are listed within and at the end of this document.
Where do the Auction proceeds go?
As our enrollment continues to increase, enhancement and expansion of school facilities and programs are critical in helping us provide the best possible education for our students. The proceeds from the Auction help support many of the school programs, facility enhancements, technology upgrades, and tuition assistance for needy families.
So, consider making the Auction a social opportunity for friends and family members that don’t always have the chance to get together. We will supply the food and libations, everyone can get great deals, and the school and our students will benefit!
How can I make a donation or purchase advertising in the Auction catalog?
All contributions are most welcome -- The deadline for donations is February 17, 2012.
You may donate items to the Auction by completing the Donation Form. The completed forms and items can be taken to the school office, or you may contact the Auction Committee chairs to arrange pick up. Monetary contributions are also welcome to help defray the costs involved with the event, including food and beverages, decorations, etc. You may contribute monetarily by writing a check payable to “STM PTO” and attaching it to the Donation Form.
Any contribution that you provide is tax-deductible as allowed by law (TAX ID # 54-085-0419). To recognize your generosity, each donation will be listed in our auction catalog.
If you are interested in placing an ad in the Auction catalog, please complete a Donation Form and submit to the school office with your ad and check payable to “STM PTO”.
Additionally, and most importantly, you can help make the Auction a success by donating your time. Since this event is entirely run by STM parents, we need everyone to help in some way. We have jobs big and small, utilizing a wide variety of talents. If you would like to find out how you can help, please contact your auction co-chairs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
What shall I donate to the Auction?
Need some suggestions? Round up some friends and put a donation together. That’s what community is all about!
- Can you cook? Provide a dessert or bread of the month. Cater a meal. Provide cooking lessons for adults and/or children.
- Are you artistic? Donate one of your pieces. Provide art lessons for children. Paint a room.
- Do you sew or knit? Knit a scarf. Make dress-up costumes. Stitch a quilt. Donate custom window treatments.
- Are you a gourmet? Open your home for a catered dinner. Donate a subscription to a gourmet magazine.
- Do you or a family member have a vacation home, timeshare, or boat? Consider use of them for a vacation or a day retreat.
- Are you into sports? Provide tickets to a sporting event. Donate a day of golf. Provide sports collectibles, athletic or exercise equipment, sports memorabilia.
- Are you a friend of someone famous? Arrange lunch with a celebrity. Coordinate a tour of a TV station. Donate autographed memorabilia.
- Are you an adventurous parent or high school student? Offer babysitting services. Take a few children on a day trip. Have a pool party at your house. Offer a baking party or gingerbread house making party.
- Do you have a green thumb? Provide flowers of the month. Offer gardening, landscaping, or lawn mowing services. Donate plants.
- Do you possess great wisdom or expertise? Offer consulting services: accounting and tax services, architectural design, computer assistance, financial planning, interior design, legal advice, nutritional counseling, personal training, wardrobe consulting.
- Do you own a business or restaurant? Donate services, meals, etc.
- See the Donation/Procurement Idea List at the end of this document for more suggestions.
- I’m a faculty member. What can I donate?
- Principal/Teacher for the Day: A student will shadow the principal for an entire day, making announcements, visiting classrooms, etc.
- Fees: Offer a year without school-related fees. Specify exactly which fees are included and the dollar value of each - PTO dues, field trip fees, yearbook, school photo package.
- Student Announcer: Student gets to make all morning announcements over the loud speaker for a week.
- A Day on the Mall: Visit one of the Smithsonian museums and have lunch on the Mall.
- Tutor: Reading, math or whichever class the student may need tutoring…make it for two days a week for a month or however long you decide.
- Classroom Party: Treat your student’s class to one lunchtime pizza party, or any other themed party.
- Lessons: singing, dancing, music, art, sport, etc.
- No Uniform for a Day: The lucky student who wins this item is entitled to wear their “play clothes” for the day, adhering to standard dress code policies.
- Lunch and Ice Cream for a Group of Students
- Day/Night Out With Your Favorite Teacher: Teachers are people too! Give a student the chance to get to know how cool his/her favorite teacher is, outside the classroom.
- Movie Party
- Ice Cream Social
- Fun Activity With a Teacher: Bowling, mini golf, skating, movie, bike ride, hike, shopping, etc.
- Art Party
- Picnic
- School Treasure Hunt
- McLunch or McBreakfast: McDonalds lunch or breakfast with teacher.
- Reserved Parking
- Front Row Seats at School/Class Event
- Tea Party
- Babysitting
- After School Activities/Parties
- CEO of the Library: Assist librarian with collecting, cataloguing, re-shelving, etc.
- Hike in the Park.
- Lunch in a Special Place: gym, library, Spanish room, art room, or computer room
- Science Demonstration/Party: mad science, experiments, etc.
- Learn to make….Whatever: knit, sew, cook, etc.
Do you have any class project ideas?
- Anything handmade by the children is very popular.
- Stepping stones.
- Cookie jar. Purchase a plain white ceramic cookie jar, cut a sponge into a circle shape and paint on a light brown circle onto the outside of the cookie jar. There should be one circle for each child (the circle was about 2 inches across - but can be smaller depending on the size of the cookie jar and the number of kids). Once the circle dries...each child dips their pinky finger in dark brown paint and adds chocolate chips to his or her "cookie". After all that dries, the teacher/parent can write the child's name with a black sharpie around their cookie.
- One cute idea is decorating a mirror frame that is already painted white. Have the children dip their fingertips in paint and use about 3 or 4 fingertip dots per child in the shape of a caterpillar. Then get an artistic parent to add on to the fingerprints things such as a bug face, bug feet, wings, etc. You can even add a sweet verse about children (ex: Bible verses about children) onto the frame. Other ideas: painted cookie jar or lamp bases.
- For the younger classes, you can purchase a white apron, use different color paints, and a teacher or room parent) can help each child put their handprint on the apron. The adult/teacher can write the child's name under the handprint.
- Another nice item is a child's bookcase, painted white. The teacher/room parent can help each child put a thumbprint on it with different colored paint. Then the parent/teacher can write the child’s name under it. When the paint dries, the adult can turn each thumbprint into a different animal, for example, a butterfly, elephant, etc.
- Class handprints and names on white linen placemats and a table runner.
- Paint a child's rocker white and put the children’s handprints and names on it. They can also write a story about the rocker as a class and write it by hand and illustrate it.
- A piece of green ware can be purchased from a local ceramic dealer (ex: platter). The platter is prepared by an art teacher or parent and then the children place a paint thumb print on the platter. It can be glazed and fired at the ceramic shop.
- Centerpieces: Have each class make a centerpiece to decorate the tables at the Auction. Have an A-frame note card on each table announcing which class made that particular centerpiece along with a silent auction bid sheet. Again, you will find parents bidding for the centerpiece their child took part in creating.
- Scrapbooks/photo collages of the children
- Themed Baskets: each child adds an item.
- Cookbook: include each child’s favorite recipes.
How do I purchase tickets to the Auction or receive a catalog?
All STM families will receive invitations to the Auction several weeks prior to the event. To purchase tickets, simply fill out the RSVP card included with the invitation and mail it back in the envelope provided. You may pay by check or credit card.
Anyone else interested in purchasing tickets to the Auction may simply email the Auction co-chairs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Printed catalogs will be available for registered guests on the evening of the event. An electronic version of the catalog will be available on-line prior to the event.
