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 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

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.

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!