Plans for Island School’s 27th Annual Auction are underway, school officials said in a press release.
Scheduled for March 11 at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, the auction is the school’s biggest fund-raising event of the year, and is put on by the parents.
“We’ve chosen Le Cirque as this year’s theme,” said event Chair Paige Talvi. “The festive atmosphere of the French circus will prevail, with colorful decorations and aerial entertainment with Julie Johnson.”
The event also features a full dinner buffet with dessert stations and an open wine bar featuring French wines.
“Items from all over the world are coming in for this fund-raising event,” said Acquisitions Co-chair Robin Pratt. Pratt attended Island School when it was located in Kealia. Her 5-year old son, James, is in the school’s Montessori pre-kindergarten class.
Among the items up for bid will be a king-size fern print Hawaiian quilt from owners of West Kauai Trading; a redwood play set from those at Backyard Adventures; a gourmet French dinner for eight from members of the Proudfoot, Guerber and Richardson families; a golf tournament for 20 from Kiahuna Golf Course officials; martinis for a year at Stevenson’s Library at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa; accommodations at Kukui‘ula Beach Cottage; four, one-day passes to Hawaiian Water Adventures Park; tickets to a Seattle
Seahawks football game from Mike and Kim Whittle; golf at Poipu Bay Golf Club with instruction from golf pro Mary Bea King, followed by lunch at Poipu Bay Bar & Grill; six nights at a private, Napa Valley home for up to 14 people, including VIP wine-tasting and tours; and a Washington, D.C. vacation package.
“We’ve been getting great ideas from people who have been involved in auction events on the Mainland,” said Talvi.
Several new twists will be featured this year. The “almost live” auction table will include items that almost made it to the live-auction list.
Guaranteed bids similar to eBay will be available for those who can’t wait to see if they win.
Students are making one-of-a-kind items to donate. Kindergartners are decorating a handmade, youth-sized surfboard; and first graders will paint an eight-foot, wooden picnic table.
Teachers are signing up to donate their favorite books.
“Guests will love our dessert items up for bid,” said Talvi. Several local dessert chefs are donating their delicious creations that can be purchased and devoured that night,” she said.
Dessert donations are from chefs at EB’s Eats, Judy Lappert, creators at the Hukilau Lanai, Mike Wallace, and those from the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa.
Also new this year is the auctioneer, Joe “Surfer Joe” Teipel, who raised $350,000 in five hours on O‘ahu for the Junior Lifeguard program.
Ron Wiley is master of ceremonies for the event.
Tickets for the event are $80 per person, and can be reserved by calling the school at 246-0233. Tables for 10 are also available. Prices are discounted until Feb. 24.
“All proceeds raised from the auction support the school’s operations for the current school year,” explained Head of School Robert Springer.
“Two major fund-raising efforts every year, the auction and the annual giving campaign, help keep tuition fees affordable,” said Springer.
“Financial-aid donations are always a big part of auction proceeds. During the live auction, guests are offered the opportunity to help other families give their children an Island School education by donating to the tuition-assistance fund,” he added.
According to Springer, last year’s auction raised over $58,000 specifically for this purpose.
