Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction Wrap-Up 2012

Dear Da Vinci Families,

The Annual Benefit Auction Committee is pleased and excited to share a few highlights from this memorable evening with the Da Vinci Community.

The event raised an estimated $ 90,000.00 for Da Vinci Academy.

• 193 people attended the auction
• Fund-a-Project raised $52,900.00 total goal was $65,000.00
•    Curriculum - $7,400.00 with a goal of $10,000.00
•    Facilities - $24,800.00 with a goal of $30,000.00
•    Technology and Professional Development $20,700.00 with a goal of $25,000.00
• The Live Auction raised $ 19,425.00.
• The Silent Auctions raised $ 22,813.00
• The Diffendoofer Golden Raffle Ticket and The Take-A-Chance raised $11,570.00
• The winners of the Diffendoofer Golden Ticket Raffle Contest were:
•    Eddie Sparti (Friend of Da Vinci Academy) won the Apple MacBook Pro
•    Makenna Collins (3^rd Grade) won the $1000.00 prize for selling the winning ticket
• The Third Grade class sold the most Raffle Tickets and they will celebrate a Diffendoofer Day.
• Cash Donations totaled $4,700.00
• The Buy-A-Bottle and other Auction sales totaled $3,345.00
• Sponsorship and Advertising totaled $9,275.00

If you will like to give to the Fund-A-Projects to help us reach our goal you may contact Larry Steffens. Please keep in mind that many companies will match cash donations (via Fund-A-Project) you give to Da Vinci Academy.


The success of the Annual Benefit Auction can be attributed to the wonderful items that were donated by friends of Da Vinci Academy and area businesses. Another key factor to our success comes from the financial support so generously given by our Sponsors, Advertisers and Individual Donors.
This event is made possible by the support and commitment of the entire Da Vinci Academy community. From securing donations, to selling raffle tickets, to purchasing and selling advertising space, to helping students conceptualize and create remarkable works of art in class projects, and volunteering before, during, and after the event, it takes a remarkable community to carry off an event of this size and scale. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and talents to the Auction. The faculty, staff, and students of Da Vinci Academy directly benefit from the Annual Benefit Auction, and are deeply grateful for the tremendous volunteer effort that goes into creating this event each year.

With Gracious Gratitude,
The Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction Committee

Class Projects 2012

The auction is getting close and class projects are wrapping up.  Each child gets an opportunity to participate in a creation made by their whole class (or classes). It is amazing what these kids can create with the help of our Class Project Committee lead by Anita Swartwood.  Take a look at what is up for auction this year! Additional pictures of the kids in action can be seen on the Facebook Page.

Pre-Kindergarten

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Nancy Owen.

Kindergarten

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Nikki Desai with Amisha Patel.

1st Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Cynthia Pighini.

2nd Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Anita Swartwood.

3rd Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Nancy Owen.

4th Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Anita Swartwood.

5th and 6th Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Anita Swartwood.

7th and 8th Grade

Find out more information about this Class Project at our website. Led by Anita Swartwood.

The seventh and eighth grade project includes picture of EVERY CHILD at Da Vinci so additional (and smaller) copies will be available for sale.  More information at the auction. If you are not attending the auction and would like to purchase a copy, please email auction@dvacademy.org for more information.

That is our class project round-up. They are on display at the school (or at least some of them are) so please stop by to check them out to appreciate all of the hard work that goes into this portion of the auction.

Find out more information about ALL of our auction items on the auction website:  dvacademy.maestroweb.com

Want to learn how to use your DSLR camera?

I love my DSLR camera and it has become even more interesting once I took a photography class. I have invited the teacher of my DSLR 101 class to come and teach a class in our own school!

Normally teaching classes in Schaumburg, Russ Lowe has agreed to teach his Photo Essentials class at Da Vinci Academy on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 in the evening from 5-9.
The following will be covered in his four hour Photo Essentials training class that is normally $225.

The DSLR camera and also the advanced hybrid cameras are among the most desired cameras on the market today. If you own one of these cameras, this is the class for you.

This single day 4 hour group class will teach you the fundamentals of your camera. Some of the topics include:

• What is White Balance and how do I set it?
• How do I set the Aperture? What does it do?
• How do I set the Shutter Speed and why do I want to do that?
• What is ISO?
• RAW vs JPG images
• If you want to know how your camera fully functions and how best to deal with a variety of lighting situations, this is the class to take.
• Please bring your camera and its instruction manual to the class. Each camera is different from model to model and brand to brand, so having the instruction manual with you could prove to be helpful in finding how your camera handles a certain function.

We will cover both theory and practical applications with your DSLR or advanced hybrid camera
We will be covering a lot of material about your camera as well as practicing the new things you'll be learning.

By the end of the four hours, you'll be shooting confidently with Aperture and Shutter Speed Priority and also Manual Settings.

A minimum of 8 are required to run the class. Each seat is $75.00. It's a great deal and you will be able to get much more out of your camera after this class. Find out more about the class at http://www.balancedexposure.com/.

More details about this item can be found at our auction website.  Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about your camera investment. This class is open to ALL so please share and you can purchase a spot for your friends that evening.  Additionally, if you are not attending the auction, please email us at auction@dvacademy.org if you are interested in a seat.

Want to go back to Kindergarten?

Up for auction is "Kindergarten Teacher for the Day!" - Da Vinci Academy

Does your child want to be a teacher or is good with lower school students? Well, let them lead Mrs. Tovar's Kindergarten's Class for the Day. The student will work out a lesson plan with assistance from Mrs. Tovar for next year's Kindergarten's class.Date to mutually agreed upon with Da Vinci Academy and Mrs. Tovar.  This item will be featured in our LIVE AUCTION! Ask your child today if this is something they would be interested in!


Find out more information about this experience on our auction website.

How to get ready for the auction?

The "Seuss on the Loose" Annual Benefit Auction is 11 days away.  We would like to take this opportunity to share with you the schedule and menu for the evening.  We also have important information in regards to your R.S.V.P and the Text2bid mobile bidding we will be using for the Silent Auction this year.  


PLEASE take the time to make sure your credit card is pre-registered before the night of the Auction (How To). This will significantly reduce your wait time in the check-in and check-out lines at the Auction.  In addition, if you have yet to see the wonderful items we will be offering at this year's Annual Benefit Auction, please visit: http://dvacademy.maestroweb.com/. 


We look forward to seeing all of you at this year's Auction, and thank you for your support through attending this event, selling Diffendoofer golden raffle tickets and the donations you have so generously given to this year's "Seuss on the Loose"  Annual Benefit Auction.


Warmest Regards,
The "Seuss on the Loose" Annual Benefit Auction Committee

Sponsor Update

KNIGHT SPONSORS

Del Mover’s

Donelle Duvall & Alan Huth

John & Sandy Lyon

Michael Simon and Nancy Sohn

Bethany & Steve Simpson

Laverne & April Tschappat

ADDITIONAL MONETARY SUPPORT

Jennifer Barrios

Robert & Linda Dawson

Randy and Julie Meridith

Samir & Amisha Patel and Family

Nancy Sohn and Mike Simon

Margaret Stevens

Arlene and Woodley Westbrook

Advertisers & Sponsors Update

We are pleased to share an update on our Sponsors and Advertisers for the Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction 2012 "Seuss on the Loose".


Our Sponsors:

1. Brian Bemis Automotive Group - Silver
2. Gerald Nissan/Subaru of North Aurora - Silver
3. Jeff and Janet Stroebel - Silver

Additionally, we would like to thank your Knight Sponsors:

1. Laverne & April Tschappat
2. Mike Simon and Nancy Sohn
3. Amy and James Lyon
4. Del's Movers
5. Bethany and Steve Simpson

Our Advertisers:

1. R. MacDonald & Associates, Ltd.
2. Pasta Mia
3. Plum Tree
4. Horton & Vranas, D.D.S.
5. David A. Noyes & Company
6. Geneva Family Dental
7. Center for Talent and Development
8. Liz Cleaners
9. Dayspring Pediatric Dentistry
10. Arts in Bartlett
11. Fox Valley Jewish Neighbors
12. The Little Traveler
13. Del's Movers

Thank you so much to all of those that are supporting the Annual Benefit Auction.  There is still time to sponsor the event or advertise in our catalog. 

What a unique experience! Flying in a WWII plane!

Check out this awesome auction item we are offering on 4/28. Please join us!

Gauntlet Warbirds - Plane Ride on a T-6

Gauntlet Warbirds is a warbird, aerobatic and tailwheel training center at the Aurora Airport, just west of downtown Chicago. Their instructors specialize in transitioning pilots of all experience levels to high-performance piston and jet aircraft.

This certificate will let you take flight with the Gauntlet Warbirds in a North American T-6 Texan airplane. March over to Aurora Municipal Airport to meet with an experienced pilot, who will map out a plan for your ideal flight. Then, take to the skies for an adventure that includes as many flips, spins, and rolls as you can handle. Work the controls yourself or surrender them to your instructor. Thanks to a photo op with your antique WWII plane upon landing, you can fondly look back on this successful aerial campaign.

North American T-6 Texan

The T-6 is most famous as an advanced trainer during WWII, although it served in a variety of roles during and after the war including forward air control in Korea. The designation AT-6 was used by the Army Air Corps, while the Air Force referred to it as a T-6, while the Navy called the aircraft an SNJ. The Commonwealth Air Forces referred to it as a Harvard.

The aircraft has a 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine and carried armament of 3 .30 caliber machine guns and a 400-500 pound rocket or bombload. A total of 15,495 T-6s of all variants were produced between the mid-1930s and mid-1950. Gauntlet Warbirds’ SNJ-5 was delivered to the Navy in 1944. A tremendously versatile aircraft, the SNJ can be easily looped from cruise flight and is an outstanding platform for formation flying.


Find out more information on our auction website.

Brad Paisley/Miranda Lambert Concert Tickets

Are you checking out the auction website to see all of the fun items that are coming in? Check out this one - a fun activity to kick off the summer.

Brad Paisley/Miranda Lambert - 2 tickets 

Virtual Reality Tour 2012 at Wrigley Field 

Saturday, June 9, 2012-5:00 p.m.

(Aisle 233 Row 17 Seats 11 & 12)

Find out more details on our auction website.

Donations needed!

Now that spring break is over, auction planning is in FULL SWING!  Our best donations come from our families through personal donations or through donations procured through your connections.

Our Annual Benefit Auction relies on the generosity of donors to provide the wonderful items we offer each year. The Committee sends donation requests to businesses in the greater Chicagoland area in order to obtain the items we use in our Auction. But, through the years the Annual Benefit Auction Committee has found that our most valuable and popular items come from families and friends of Da Vinci Academy. Personal connections result in great auction items! We ask our families to support Da Vinci Academy by using their networks to help us solicit contributions for the Annual Benefit Auction. 


Not sure where to begin? Take a look at the list below for examples on what donations have been popular and profitable at our previous events.

• Hotel Room or Condo in Chicago
• Sports Tickets/ Skybox
• Concert Tickets or Theater Tickets
• Vacation or Time Share Donations
• Tour of a Business or Museum (Behind the Scenes)
• Sports Memorabilia
• Water Park/Theme Park Tickets
• Electronics Games/iPods/Computers
• Special Wine or Collection of Gourmet Foods
• Private Plane Ride or Exotic Car Ride
• Air Fare or Tickets (to pair with a donated trip)
• A Collection of Favorite Books, DVDs or Games
• Home Entertainment (HDTV, DVD Player, Sound System)
• Outdoor Entertainment and Recreation Items
• Home Health and Fitness items
• Jewelry
• Beauty Services or Items
• Coffee Maker/Espresso Maker
• Artwork or Collectables
• Thematic Baskets – e.g., “Movie Night” or “Family Game Night” or “Garden Party

Do you have a special talents or can you offer a unique experience. Here are some things to consider? 

• Make a quilt or sew something,          
• Certificate for baked goods
• Host a dinner party
• Build a Tree House
• House/Pet Sitting for a week
• Host a Children’s Party of any kind
• Donate a service from your company
• Offer Lessons (Sewing or Knitting, Sports Instruction, Jewelry Making, Cooking)

Additionally, we typically need about sixty gift certificates (valued between $5-$100) for Buy-A-Bottle and eighty to one hundred twenty Silent and Live Auction items. We pride ourselves in offering high-quality items that making attending the Annual Benefit Auction and bidding on items fun as well as rewarding. 

Download our Donation form here or use our online form to set up our donation. Thank you for considering supporting our auction!

Diffendoofer Raffle: Start Selling Tickets!

Don't forget to participate in our Diffendoofer Golden Ticket Raffle!  Take this opportunity to sell raffle tickets to your friends and family so they can get the chance to win an Apple MacBook Pro!

 

Don't forget, the more tickets you sell, the more opportunities you will have to be entered into the family raffle.  The Family that sells the winning ticket will choose between a $1000.00 tuition credit or $1000.00 cash. 

The class that sells the most tickets will get to celebrate DIFFENDOOFER DAY! The winning class will get to do the following:

1. Choose the THEME OF THE DAY for the school
2. Lead Morning Workout
3. Lunch of Their Choice
4. Decorate their own Seuss Hats
5. A FUN and special afternoon SURPRISE!!!
6. A special surprise for each student

You don't want to miss out on this awesome DIFFENDOOFER DAY! Start selling your raffle tickets TODAY. 

Tickets have been included in your auction packet and additional tickets are available at the front desk. Additionally, if you have family out-of-town who would like to purchase tickets, ticket reservations can be made here.

New Sponsors and Advertisers

Announcing two new sponsors and three new advertisers. A big thank you to:

• Jeff and Janet Stroebel - Silver Sponsorship
• Laverne and April Tschappat- Knight Sponsorship

Additionally, our advertisers in the catalog are:

• Center for Talent and Development - http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/
• Dayspring Pediatric Denistry   - www.dayspringpediatricdentistry
• Geneva Family Dental - www.genevafamilydental.com
• Spare Wheels - www.sparewheels.com

Please consider advertising, donating or sponsoring our auction.

Auction Item: NASCAR Racing Experience: The Ultimate Ride Package

Our auction items are starting to come in! Very exciting to see how the auction is beginning to shape up.  Check this one out:

Experience first hand this Race Fan Favorite at NASCAR Racing Experience. This 3 hour experience is for the NASCAR race fan that wants to drive a race car! Get a taste of what it’s like to drive a real NASCAR Race Car on the same superspeedways the pros race on! Here's your chance to get behind the wheel of real NASCAR RaceCar and go for it! Dreams will become a reality as you put the pedal to the metal in this 5 minute timed racing session. Remember- you’re driving by yourself! There’s no lead car to follow, you have in car radio communications and passing is allowed! NASCAR Racing Experience is as real as it gets! So what are you waiting for? Time flies as fast as you’ll drive on the racetrack.  Find out more information about this auction item here.


Don't forget you can keep track of auction items as they are posted just by going to our auction website.

Please consider Sponsoring "Seuss on the Loose"

 Da Vinci Academy presents a wonderful opportunity to promote your business to a successful, prominent and diverse audience; the attendees of Da Vinci Academy’s “Seuss on the Loose” Annual Benefit Auction. 

The Annual Benefit Auction is one of Da Vinci’s major fundraising events and is critical to Da Vinci’s mission and vision of providing our students a unique educational community that develops a student's strengths, interests and potential. Da Vinci Academy is a 501c3 organization and through our Auction each year we raise nearly $90,000 for our school and its’ programs. 

Da Vinci Academy is an independent, nonsectarian school that provides a differentiated educational environment for talented and intellectually gifted children (pre-kindergarten through eighth grade). Our students come from a variety of communities stretching from Naperville to Mc Henry, Wheaton to Sycamore and the Fox River Valley (South Elgin, Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles). Proceeds from this auction will directly benefit our students and staff by providing the necessary funds to expand and support our outstanding academic programs. Through the continued dedication of our exceptional staff, Da Vinci Academy strives to provide its students with an educational alternative that is strong in academics and comprehensive in art, music, foreign language, technology and athletic programs.

Please consider sponsoring our auction. You can download the Sponsor form here and you can even sign up for a Sponsorship online here.

How to R.S.V.P. to Seuss on the Loose

Our Annual Benefit Auction folders should be arriving to you shortly or you may have already received the packet. Inside each folder is detailed information on our Annual Benefit Auction, your official invitation, your Diifendoofer Golden Ticket Raffle Packets as well as information on how you can R.S.V.P.

Since our process is different in years past, we have included an R.S.V.P. How-to document available for download here.  You will be able to R.S.V.P. on our auction website.

If you have any questions about R.S.V.P.ing, contact us at auction@dvacademy.org.

Volunteer Positions available

Want to get involved? We could use your help! Here are two roles that can be done on a very flexible timetable.

1. Procurement: Solicit donations from the community (local businesses, DVA families, the greater community).
2. Advertising Coordinator: Network with existing and new businesses to obtain advertising for the event catalog and website.

Additional information on these roles and other opportunities to help are in our Auction Roles and Responsibilities document in Sycamore. If you can offer your time and talent in any way, please e-mail auction@dvacademy.org to volunteer.

Save the Date: Da Vinci's Annual Benefit Auction "Seuss on the Loose" is on Saturday, April 28th, 2012

Save the Date! Da Vinci's Annual Benefit Auction will be held at the St. Charles Country Club, Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at 6:00 PM.  We are excited to announce our fun theme this year, "Seuss on the Loose!".

Mark your calendars and plan to join us at our auction this year, featuring some exciting new changes like MOBILE BIDDING!

We need your help!

There are FOUR easy ways in which every family can help make this year’s Annual Benefit Auction a success.

1. Attend the Auction
2. Donate or Procure an Item for the Auction or Sell an  Advertisement
3. Purchase and Sell Golden Tickets
4. Are You a Business Owner or Know One? Sponsor the Auction or Advertise in our Program

Find out more information on how to help on our Auction website (coming soon!) or and on this blog! The auction cannot be a success without you!

Auction Wrap-Up 2011

We are excited to announce the totals raised at this year’s Annual Benefit Auction: Once Upon a Time.  The event raised an estimated $ 77,000 for Da Vinci Academy. A few highlights from this memorable evening:

• 148 people attended the auction
• Fund-a-Project/restricted donations raised $42,000 ($7,000 is still needed to fully fund these projects)
• The Live Auction raised $ 14,775
• The Silent Auctions raised $ 14,400
• The Golden Ticket raised $11,000 
• Cash Donations totaled $7,500
• The Buy-A-Bottle, Precious Moments Figurines and Centerpiece sales totaled $4,885
• Sponsorship and Advertising totaled a record amount of almost $ 10,000
• Golden Ticket Winners:
• Macbook Air - Faith Oriold (mother of Ben Oriold - 8th grader at Da Vinci Academy)
•  The Apple Tree - Laurie Rogman (Alumni Family and Board of Trustee Member)

Please keep in mind that many companies will match cash donations (via Fund-A-Project) you give to Da Vinci Academy. Contact Larry Steffens if you would like to pursue this giving opportunity to the school.

The success of the Annual Benefit Auction is due in part to the wonderful items that were contributed by supporters and friends of Da Vinci Academy. Thank you so much for your donations and for the time and effort that went into securing donations from area businesses.

This event is made possible by the support and commitment of the entire Da Vinci Academy community. From securing donations, to selling raffle tickets, to purchasing and selling advertising space, to helping students conceptualize and create remarkable works of art in class projects, and volunteering before, during, and after the event, it takes a remarkable community to carry off an event of this size and scale. Thank you to everyone who donated their time and talents to the Auction. The faculty, staff, and students of Da Vinci Academy directly benefit from the Annual Benefit Auction, and are deeply grateful for the tremendous volunteer effort that goes into creating this event each year.

Stay tuned for an announcements detailing next year’s annual benefit auction, it promises to be an Exceptional event!

Save the Date April 28, 2012

With Gracious Gratitude,

The Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction Committee

2011 Catalog Preview

Dear Da Vinci Families,

We are excited to share with you the draft catalog and program for the 2011 Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction. Steak and jumbo prawns are on the menu, and an evening of fine dining and exciting raffles, silent auction items, and live auction items await.

Final attendance numbers are due to the club on Monday. If you would like to attend but have not had the opportunity to RSVP, please contact auction@dvacademy.org as soon as possible. If you cannot attend but would like to proxy bid on any of the items in the catalog, please also contact auction@dvacademy.org and we will walk you through the process. Don’t miss your chance to bid on some wonderful items! Remember, too, that families can register bids for the various Fund-A-Project items listed in the catalog via proxy bid, even if they are not able to attend the auction. Contact us for more details.

We look forward to seeing many of you next Saturday, April 30 at the St. Charles Country Club.

Warm Regards,

The 2011 Da Vinci Academy Annual Benefit Auction Committee

Parent Education Breakfast Pictures

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Parent Education breakfast last Tuesday. I thought it was a very informative talk and a special thanks to Dr. Michelle Bidwell for the amazing information and taking the time to answer our questions.

Here are some pictures from the event: