Do I have to dress up?
The event is cocktail attire, but if you would like to get dressed up in the Great Gatsby style, you will be in good company! It makes the night a little more fun in theme!

Does everything I purchase go towards my fundraising goal?
Yes!! Everything you purchase at the auction will count towards your fundraising obligation. Only a portion of your ticket will count ($25), but everything else will be credited 100%.

Do I have to spend thousands of dollars to enjoy myself?

No! There will be items, packages, and sign up events to fit every budget. Auction Night is a great big party filled with food, friends, and fun. Use it as an opportunity to shop for gifts for others...money you'd spend anyway... think Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc.

Why do I need to attend this auction in person? Can I just donate money instead?

As much as we appreciate your generosity, we strongly encourage you to join us at the auction. It is truly a community event, and you will enjoy the company of many others that share the same passion for education. However, if circumstances prevent your attendance at the auction, you can donate cash or items.

If I volunteer on Auction Night, can I bid on items?
Yes, we hope you do!!  When you arrive on Auction Night, you are encouraged to “Check-In” to get a Bid Number. This gives you freedom to bid and purchase just like our guests.

What is mobile bidding?
You will place bids on the silent auction items via your Smart Phones (make sure you bring them charged!) It makes the auction experience easier for you, as it lets you mingle more throughout the evening without missing out on the packages you want.  The week before the auction you will receive text messages on how to register and get familiar with the system. (Only people who purchase a ticket will be able to bid).

Do I get to preview the items before the event?
Yes! We will be highlighting some of the fun and interesting items on the school Facebook pages during the weeks leading up to the auction. You will also receive a printed catalog a few days before the event so you can begin planning your bidding strategies.

What if I have no one to sit with?
We will take care of you! We will do our best to sit you with families from your grade level, and that will give you an opportunity to get to know the people you interact with every day. Everyone leaves as friends!

I'm new to the school and feeling overwhelmed after reading this!

It's okay. We've all been there...being the new kid on the block. The Auction is simply an awesome party and a way for us to raise money for the school. The Auction Chairs are the Party Planners and they need help to pull it off.

Start brainstorming about what you'd like to donate...think about your network and contacts...would someone you know consider donating something awesome to help raise money for our school?

Consider when you'd like to volunteer and your schedule.
If you want to help or donate…just ask…we are here to help each other!

Donation 101:

How can I help, make a donation or purchase advertising in the Auction program?
All contributions are most welcome and even the smallest donation is of great importance in making the auction a success.

o   Make a donation – Many items are needed for the auction.

• We are looking for donations for the Live, Silent and Big Board Auction. Do you have a vacation home that you can offer for a week? Do you have sporting game tickets or a suite you can donate? Perhaps a service you can offer?
• Become an Underwriter – This event relies on the generous support of local businesses, SSJ families, and community.
• Become a Corporate or Table Sponsor – Sponsors receive a variety of benefits including a program ad, your company name listed on the sponsor page of the program and the auction newsletter, and your company logo on the Bunker Hill banner.
• Purchase Advertising in our Auction Program – Over 250 copies of our catalog are distributed. Advertising in our Auction program can be great exposure for local businesses. Individuals can also purchase ads to show their support for our school or to congratulate a loved one.

I just donated something worth $100; do I get fundraising credit for that?
You do not receive fundraising credit for donations, but you do receive credit towards your volunteer hours.     1 hour of volunteer time = $15….so a $100 donation will credit you 6.6 hours. You can “earn” up to 25 hours of volunteer requirements through donations. All donations are tax deductible.

A quick breakdown to help you do the math:

My friend is the General Manager of a resort, and I had him donate a weekend stay. Do I get credit for that?
You will receive volunteer hours for the work you put into getting the donation. The resort would get all tax benefits for that.

Can we get creative with our donations?

We love creative ideas. If you have a great idea that you've seen at other auctions or something you'd like to see offered at ours, tell us about it. If you have a wild and crazy idea for a package or item, we want to hear it!

If you're still not sure what to do next, simply email us and say, "Help, I'm new!" We understand and are happy to help you navigate your way.

I have connections, but don’t want to approach my contact…can you do it for me?
Yes, we can! We have a group of parents that are ready to call! All you have to do is give us the information!

I don’t have connections, and don’t have anything to donate, but still want to help. Do you have suggestions?

Yes, we do! An easy way to help is by donating a gift card of some kind…or a bottle of wine for the Wine Wheel. Any bottle of wine worth $20 or more, any value of gift card…we can package it with other items!

Sign-Up Parties & Events 101: 

What is a Sign-Up Party? 
It is an event you host for the school as a fundraiser. People sign up at the auction and make a donation to the   school inorder to attend. The cost to participate varies based on the event and the target audience. 100% of the funds raised go to the school.   Each year we offer a variety of events that serve as fundraisers, but are also great community builders….it is a fun way to get to know fellow parents and families!

If I host a party, do I have to pay for it? 
In a nutshell, yes. However, many people will co-host a party with one or more individuals (or families) to have more fun, share labor, and offset costs. And you can get donations for your event. Many parties cost practically nothing to host.     

 Is a party/event tax-deductible? 
Yes, it is, up to the fullest extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service and based on what you have contributed. For more advice, please consult a tax professional.    

Am I paid anything to host the party? 
No, but you will feel great for giving back to the kids! Your efforts to organize and host the party are your volunteer donation of time (up to 25 hours) to SSJ. However, any costs you have may be tax‐deductible. 

How many people are invited and how much do I charge for my party? 
The number of people depends on how big your space is/what you are going to do. You must stipulate a minimum number  of sign-ups for the party of occur. We will help determine a price.

 What if I want to throw a party but don't have the space? What if I have the space but am not sure what to  do?
If you have an idea for a party (cooking demo, BBQ outdoor dinner, Super Bowl party) LET US KNOW! And if you  have a large kitchen someone can cook in, or a big deck with an outdoor table, or a large entertainment room, LET  US KNOW! We will   be happy to match people up so they can work together! That is why we are here!   

When do I have the party? 
You can host parties all year long, even the summer! They can be indoor events, outdoor events, at night, in the morning… you get the idea. However, once a date is set it cannot be changed.  All events should be held prior to the 2018-2019 school year.    

What kind of parties can I host? 
Anything you, your friends, or your family like to do! We are dividing the parties into three categories.  1) Adult Only    

Parties; 2) Kid Only Parties; 3) Family Parties/One adult and kid(s) parties (e.g. father/daughter, mother/son)

I want to host something…can you help?
Yes! We are lucky to have an event planner on our committee who can assist. We will work with you every step of the way!  

Do you have any events ready to go that I can just sponsor?
Funny you should ask! We have a few events that would be great additions to the line-up this year, and need hosts/sponsors. Any donations towards these events would be appreciated!

*  Father & Son Nerf War BBQ …we will find the field…sponsorship is only needed

*  Mother & Daughter painting party…we will pay for the painting, you supply the rest!

*  Flipping into Summer Pool Party …You can specify your own grade level or keep it open!

*  Bunco Party…it can be as fancy or casual as you would like!

Sign-Up Party and Event Ideas: 

Outdoor Movie Night: Arrange for a projection screen and host an outdoor movie night with snacks, blankets, drinks, etc. 

Adult Costume Party: 80s, Rocky Horror Picture Show, 50s/60s, Great Gatsby/Roarin’ 20s, Vegas, etc. for  adults only.   

TV Show Themed Party: Organize a small or large party to dress in the matter of a popular TV show such  as Game of      Thrones, Dr. Who, Mad Men or similar, and maybe watch the show! 

Sports Themed Parties: Super Bowl, Civil War, Final Four, Kentucky Derby, etc. 

Crafting or Knitting: Organize a how‐to crafting or knitting party with supplies, takeaways, and snacks.   

Dinner or Lunch with a Local Celebrity: Schedule a lunch for two or four individuals (adults or older children) with a local person of note. 

Examples could be the sheriff, mayor, Miss Huntington Beach, a member of any of our professional baseball teams, etc.

Themed Dinner Party: Cook a themed dinner party for guests.   

Sprinkler Fun or Park Play Dates: Playdate during the summer for children of a given age range with outdoor toys, snacks, activities, etc.   

Cookie Decorating Party: This is fun for kids or adults!

More Questions??  We are here to help!

Marguerite Hoffman   riteg@hotmail.com

Jodi McKeever Jodi.McKeever@biworldwide.com

Katey Dadakis  kateyritro@gmail.com