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School fund-raising
Parents say annual events provide needed extras
(Published February 23, 2004)

By JULIA BILZ
Staff Writer

Many D.C. public schools rely on outside fund-raising to supplement their perennially tight budgets. While countless kinds of fund-raising events take place each year, auctions have proved to be among the most successful.

Murch Elementary School has been holding auctions since 1980. Last year, the Northwest Washington school raised more than $50,000, said auction co-chairman Sarah Beard.

"It was a very good year... a record year," she said.

Lafayette Elementary will hold the school’s 20th annual auction this year. The event usually brings in between $40,000 and $50,000.

"It’s the biggest fund-raiser we do," said co-chairman Kim Ford.

Janney Elementary and Deal Junior High also hold annual auctions. Last year the Janney auction raised $110,000 under the direction of two-time chairman Malin Kerwin. Deal raised more than $10,000 last year for supplemental programs to help its 965 seventh, eighth and ninth graders.

An auction is often a school’s single largest fund-raiser, bringing in thousands of dollars at once to supplement the budget.

"D.C. Public Schools falls extremely short supplying schools with enough money," Kerwin said.

Successful fund-raisers provide schools with additional resources that allow them to add teacher aides, make building repairs and buy needed supplies.

Auctions would not be successful without the hard work of many parent volunteers. Typically, one or two parents serve as chairman of the event. They also work with subcommittees to organize the auction. Being a co-chairman involves "managing as well as supporting committees," Beard said. "It’s definitely a huge job."

Peabody Elementary takes a slightly different route to fund-raising. In addition to an annual auction, Peabody hosts two other unique events.

Each fall the school plans a house tour on Capitol Hill. Between 800 and 1,000 participants take a house tour in the neighborhood’s historic district. The event raises close to $20,000, PTA president Gary Carleton said.

As with an auction, volunteers are a vital part of the operation. The house tour requires several volunteers to prepare the tour, and more than 100 on the day of the event.

"There are 800 people going through the homes and they must be staffed well during the day," Carleton said.

This spring marks Peabody’s 25th annual 10-kilometer footrace. The Capitol Hill Classic takes place in May and "raises significant funds for us," Carleton said.

Peabody holds an auction as well, though it is still in its early stages as a large fund-raiser.

"The race is a tradition on Capitol Hill, and now the auction is becoming more of a community event," Carleton said.

Money from fund-raising helps meet a wide range of needs. This year, Lafayette will use some of the auction proceeds to help defer the costs of the newly renovated library, Ford said.

Janney PTA uses its supplemental funds to pick up where D.C. Public Schools’ funding leaves off. Money is used for textbooks and to renovated or repair buildings.

"We also pay for all the toilet paper and paper towels, because DCPS falls short," Kerwin said.

Last year Janney PTA spent $250,000 on the school, Kerwin said. Nearly half of that came from the auction.

Fund-raising at Deal Junior High School helps meet a number of needs. The PTA doesn’t earmark money from fund-raising events for specific needs, PTA president Betsy Shrader said.

"We favor a broad impact," she said.

Many schools use the money from fund-raisers to pay for special teachers whose salaries are not covered in the DCPS budget. Thanks to auction funds, Lafayette students have art and science teachers. Murch is able to have a full-time nurse because of its auction’s success. Without auction funds, the nurse would work only part time.

Some money goes to teaching aides for older children.

"It makes a big difference for teachers to have the extra help," Katz said.

Auctions are successful not only because of dedicated parents organizing the event, but also because of donations. Area schools depend on both parent contributions as well as donations from local businesses.

"Community businesses are very important. Their donations and advertising are helpful," Shrader said. "When [businesses] go the extra mile, you get a sense of community."

Auction items vary greatly. Big-ticket items, which usually count for between 15 and 20 of all items to be auctioned, are usually part of a live auction. The hundreds of smaller items that remain are part of a silent auction.

Those attending Lafayette’s auction this year will have the opportunity to bid on a trip to Disney World, Stanley Cup tickets, Redskins tickets, and a trip to Cooperstown, N.Y., to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.

All of these large ticket items are available because of a parent donation or contact, Ford said. Most of Lafayette’s donations come from the community.

"Local businesses and parents have been amazing," Ford said.

Janney benefits from "a combination of donations from parents and businesses," Kerwin said. This year’s auction will feature theater tickets, car detailing, vacation homes, gift certificates at area restaurants, as well as hotel getaways, Kerwin said. Other smaller items will also be auctioned.

Murch capitalizes on such large-ticket items as tickets to Redskins’ games and local theaters. Parents with vacation homes often donate a weekend vacation. Area hotel getaways have been donated by the Renaissance, Hyatt and the Capitol Hilton, Katz said.

"Mixed in with the larger items are homey, creative individual things," Katz said.

Smaller, individual items allow individuals and students to be involved.

Murch families donate meals featuring cuisine from all over the word. Winning bidders can get "a lot of ethnic food delivered to [their] door," Katz said.

Some of Murch Elementary’s 475 students, ranging from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, donate items individually.

This year, a third grader is donating a recipe book and is offering to bake a cake for the wining bidder. Siblings in kindergarten and second grade are making ice cream. A Murch student’s grandfather, who is also a master carpenter, is offering to build custom furniture, Katz said.

Murch alumni, currently in seventh grade, also join in the festivities. These students come back and help serve dinner.

"It’s a way for them to give back and stay attached," Katz said.

At many schools, the majority of bidders are parents. The Murch auction draws more than 300 people annually.

"The core of our attendees are parents," Beard said.

Parents of Murch alumni also attend, as they continue to support the school.

Lafayette auction information was sent out on the Chevy Chase neighborhood listserv in hopes of further publicizing the event, Ford said.

Auctions are open to the community, and citizens are encouraged to support the local schools either by contributing to the auction or by bidding on items.

Dates and locations for upcoming fund-raisers are listed below. For tickets or more information on a specific auction, contact the school hosting the event.

Copyright 2004, The Common Denominator