Hello ESA Community!
I am writing to introduce the coordination team for the upcoming Silent Auction 2014 – Claire MacKenzie, Andrea Rutty and Tracey Ehl Harrison; that’s me. We are looking forward to jumping in to work with all of you and building on all of the great stuff that’s been done in previous years to support the programs at ESA. The Silent Auction and Craft Fair will be taking place on Saturday, November 22, 2014. Mark your calendar!
As a parent of a grade 9 student, I have to say that I was blown away by the school environment and the creativity and extent of student talent. Wow. I bet planning is already underway for next year’s shows and so it’s fitting that we start our planning too for the craft fair and silent auction, SESAT’s largest annual fundraiser.
I am hoping that you will start to think about your networks and where we might be able to find some great donations for the 2014 auction. Be creative….maybe you know a chef who’d give a lesson for 2 or someone with a cottage they rent out. Maybe your sister-in-law owns a car dealership and has some extras on the lot…Maybe your favourite travel agent, spa, restaurant or clothing spot would be willing to pitch in. Maybe your student would be willing to paint a family portrait, do a photo shoot or invite a cameo appearance in their film.
Every donation counts. Don’t be afraid to THINK BIG. This year, an orthodontic treatment brought in the single largest bid in auction history. We’ve got a great list of organizations who have been generous before and SESAT members will be reaching out to them over the summer. Starting early means that some organizations with longer approval timelines can also get involved.
Attached is the ESA Silent Auction Donation Form 2014 v1 for your use. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $20. (Please note that gift cards and in-kind services are not eligible for tax receipts.) You’ll see that we’re seeking all donations by Tuesday, November 11. That way, we can have all of the bid sheets ready to go and, importantly, create a thank you video that includes all of our donors. The video will be shown at the Silent Auction and posted on the ESA website for all to enjoy!
If you have some ideas, questions or are able to source a donation over the summer months, please contact me with the good news at tracey@ehlharrison.com. In September, we’ll get back in touch with a reminder and let you know how it has been going so far.
Thank you for your help! It’s a silent auction, but together let’s make some NOISE!
Enjoy the summer. It’s finally here. All the best,
Tracey