What is the Nixon Auction?

The Nixon Auction is our largest "adults-only" fundraising, social and community building event of the year! This event is designed to bring together Nixon parents and community members for a fantastic evening of laughs, delicious food/drinks and dancing late into the night! All this while raising much-needed funds for our school!!

 

Where do these funds actually go?

The proceeds from the auction help to support our PTO budget, funding much of what our children come home from school most excited to talk about – the memory makers!  At $23,500 annually, our largest budget item is Educational Enrichment. Our dedicated EE volunteers find the best outside specialists – including authors, artists, scientists, motivational speakers, performers, mathematicians, and more – to provide programs in direct support of our school’s curriculum and core values.  

 

What happens at the event?

The evening begins at 6:00pm and lasts until the music stops, probably around midnight.  We start with a “cocktail hour” in which you can participate in our Signature Raffle, bid on over 80 incredible Silent Auction items, browse and purchase items from the Nixon Wishing Tree, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails and mingle with your fellow Nixon parents.  At the close of the Silent Auction, we will adjourn to the main dining room, head to our tables and enjoy a delicious meal with friends old and new.  After dinner, the LIVE Auction begins!  Our auctioneer will present the fantastic packages we’ve chosen for the exciting process of live bidding.  And when the auction portion of the night is over, the dance floor opens up and the party continues! 

 

Can you explain a little bit more about the bidding process?

Check In: When you arrive at the venue, head to the registration table to check in and receive a bidder number. You will use that number to bid on donated items during the Silent and Live Auction. 

 

Silent Auction Bidding: We have over 80 items available during the Silent Auction.  These items, along with their bid sheets, will be located on tables in the event space. When you find the items you are interested in, write your bid and bidder number on the bid sheets. Be sure to check back often as you may need to outbid someone else! At the end of the Silent Auction, the highest bidder on each item will bring it home!

 

Live Auction Bidding: The Live Auction happens when we are seated at our tables after dinner.  The Auctioneer will announce and describe the fabulous items.  Then, let the bidding begin!  With your bidder number in hand and game face on, raise your hand/number to try and win the items you want.  Highest bidder takes home the prize!   

 

Check Out:  At the end of the evening, if you've won an auction item, return to the registration table to retrieve your prize and check out. 

 

I’ve heard Auction Packages can get pretty extravagant.  What kinds of items can I expect?

We have worked hard to offer a wide range of auction packages.  And, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, Nixon families, our children's classrooms, Nixon teachers and staff we have something for everyone! 

 

Tell me more about how the Wishing Tree will work at the Auction.

Launched at last year’s Auction, the Wishing Tree is an electronic listing of items your child’s teacher and other Nixon faculty have requested.  Items range from markers and books to cameras, standing desks and iPads!  There will be a Wishing Tree station at the auction with the wish lists items dangling as petals on a tree. Throughout the night, you can browse the tree and select items for  purchase.  These items are paid for at the Wishing Tree station via check or cash

 

What if I don’t “win” any of the items I tried to bid on but still want to support the cause?

Sometimes at auctions, we just get outbid.  It happens! But, there are still other options to support the fundraising cause this evening. In addition to the Wishing Tree and Raffle, we will also have a laptop console available where interested folks can make donations via Pay Pal to our Direct Appeal effort.  Whichever way you end up contributing, every donation makes a meaningful difference in funding the programs the PTO provides to our children. 

 

My spouse is out of town on April 11th, can I still attend? 

OF COURSE! As with all Nixon events, couples and singles are welcome!  Gather your friends for a table of 8 or less; the auction committee will make sure everyone is seated in a great location!

 

Do I have to put my own table together? And, why the change to assigned seats?

Based on feedback from past years and in order to make it easier for families to bid on items together, we’ve given parents the option of selecting their own seating. This is an option for your convenience and certainly not a requirement.  

 

Here is how it works: If you have no seating preference, simply indicate so on your RSVP card and the Auction Committee will make seating arrangements for you.  If you have a full table of 8, simply list the names of your tablemates (including yourself) on the RSVP card.  And, if you have one or two friends to request to sit with, note them on the RSVP card and the Auction Committee will fill in accordingly.  

 

When you arrive at the venue, there will be a table with place cards indicating at which table you have been seated.  

 

I am a vegetarian/on a gluten free diet/am allergic to nuts.  What are my options? 

NO PROBLEM at all! Please note any dietary concerns or needs on your response card; Charter Oak’s kitchen will ensure your meal is safe for you to enjoy. Questions about meals? Email Doreen at: dfneale@gmail.com

 

I hear there’s a “no jeans” policy at Charter Oak – do I have to wear a fancy dress or jacket and tie? 

While the “no jeans” policy is consistently enforced, you do not have to wear a jacket and tie.  Honor the dress code, but be comfortable, enjoy a night out with your Nixon friends – perhaps a little more dressed up than you might be for the bus stop or school pick up!  It can actually be fun to see your Nixon community dressed up for a Saturday night out!

 

I can’t attend the auction, is there a way I can help out or donate? 

ABSOLUTELY! If you can’t attend the night of April 11th, you can still contribute to the Direct Appeal, or browse online at the Wishing Tree at Nixon Wishing Tree.  No donation is too small.  When put together we can make a lasting, positive impact on the quality of our children’s educational experience!!  

 

Still have questions? 

Please email Doreen Neale at dfneale@gmail.com or Sarah Troiano at sarah@troiano.me