Kent School held its annual fundraising auction on Saturday, March 24. Over 200 guests attended “A Seaside Affair” to mingle with friends, enjoy great food and shop for wonderful items in both the silent and live auctions. The silent auction featured jewelry, spa packages, gift certificates and much more. The live auction featured several trips including dove hunting in Argentina, a week on Cape Cod and a week in Nova Scotia. There were also bikes, a hot air balloon ride and the school’s tradition of offering donations from each grade. The event netted over $105,000 for Kent School. Headmaster, Chris Gorycki, said, “It was a thrill to be a part of such a great evening. We had an ambitious fundraising goal and I am happy to report we not only met it, we exceeded it.”
Proceeds from the auction support the School’s general operating budget which benefits every student and teacher. The school also fundraises to support a special initiative not included in the operating budget. This year, the initiative brings reliable, high speed Internet connectivity to every part of the school campus along with the supporting hardware, software, and professional development. Gorycki continued, “Of course we have Internet at Kent School but our students deserve access to the Internet in ways that support our commitment to provide a 21st century education to every one of our students. To do that effectively, we need to upgrade. I am so grateful to everyone in the room who raised their bid card to support our students.”
Nicole Wagner ‘88 and Ellen Conner ’79, both Kent School alumnae and current parents, chaired the event for the second year in a row. “This year we had such a variety of things, tickets, unique experiences, and trips that there was literally something for everyone. Very few people went home empty handed,” commented Wagner. Conner added, “There was such a great mix of people there. I’ve never seen so many fellow alumni at the event. There were also a lot of new faces. It’s nice to know so many people enjoy coming to this event. The entire school community is thankful for the help from so many people to make the auction a success. Without the volunteers, donors, guests, bidders and sponsors, the auction would not have been as successful as it was.”
The event began with a preview cocktail party for sponsors. Guests were greeted with a glass of champagne as they entered a completely transformed gymnasium. The décor evoked the feeling of dinner at a casually elegant beachfront resort. The silent auctions closed at 7:20; all guests were then asked to be seated for dinner and the live auction. Professional auctioneer, J.R. Russum took the stage – and the bidding began. Following the auction, guests stayed on to dance the night away to live music by “The Real Geniuses.”
For more information about Kent School’s auction or any other facet of the school call 410-778-4100 ext. 12 or visit www.kentschool.org. Kent School is a co-ed school serving boys and girls from pre-k through grade 8.
Retha J. Arrabal says
Wow… amazing… congratulations on an amazing fundraiser!
Joe Diamond says
Always a new and fresh theme!
This event is a great example of making your own wind; making a great thing from no thing. Parents who have already cut a pile of checks for tuition and supplies plus, in some cases, transportation from afar, pitch in to make this event an undervalued asset around this town. The auction is, by far, the most fun you will have in a gym (but they moved it I think) Always good food from a local restaurant, drinks & live music to support a great program.
My fav Kent School story = When our son was a first grader we could tell he was happy with his school. His first week went almost without problem; the front door was a little hard to open “all by myself ” but a big kid opened it for “us.” So when Saturday arrived there he was “……….come on….time to go to school……..” When we told him there was no school on Saturday he thought for a minute and there was a little tear. He smiled and ran off when we told him there would be more Kent School on Monday.
Yeah Kent School!
Joe