Parents' Group Auction Ideas
Q. What
are some sure winners for a parents' group fund-raising auction?
The Parent-Teacher Organization website, www.ptotoday.com, has a bulletin board with
ideas like these. Here are some gleaned from a recent visit there:
·
A piece of kid's art from each classroom, selected by the
kids
·
First place in the carpool line for all year
·
Reserved parking spot right up front for all school evening
activities
·
Eight front row reserved seats at graduation
·
A "themed basket" from each classroom, put together by the
parents - examples, "Backyard BBQ" with a gift certificate to a meat market,
cedar chips, grilling tools, cookbook, croquet set, etc.) and "Doggie," with
chew toys, biscuits, brush, dogwalking certificates, etc.
·
Classroom "Build a Bears" - kids can study bears and go on
a field trip to make a girl bear and a boy bear; teacher can supply a diaper
bag and bedtime book for each bear; kids take turns taking a bear home for the
weekend and writing in a journal about their adventures; at year-end, they're
auctioned off
·
Magic Carpet - kids can decorate a rectangle square carpet
sample with "jewels" and paint, and sit on it during reading time when they are
the "star of the week," then auction it off at year-end
·
Fingerprint keepsake - Buy a plain white ceramic flowerpot,
piggy bank, canister or pitcher from Wal-Mart or IKEA; each child paints their
fingerprint on it; they're turned into flowers, bugs, designs, etc.
·
Sleepovers in the gym - teachers volunteer as chaperones on
a 1:10 staff-child ratio and provide snacks and sodas; everyone plays games and
sleeps in sleeping bags; slots can sell for $100 each
·
Headmaster or Principal for a Day - complete with kid-sized
suitcoat and tie
·
Decoupage - mini photos of class members decoupaged onto a
clock or tray
·
Bedside tables - woodworking parent helped kids make their
own creations
·
Weekend getaway package - two nights in a hotel, free
dinner out, theater tickets, babysitting
·
Teeth whitening - don't laugh; if a parent is a dentist and
will donate it, this is a hot item!
·
A ride-along night at the local police station - one of the
few items dads get excited about
·
Alphabet quilt - each child takes a square and an alphabet
letter
·
Batting cage coaching from a local community college
baseball coach
·
If any parents fish and have a boat, set up a half-day
guided fishing trip
·
Gourmet feast for 8 served and cleaned up in your home
·
Flowers once a month for a year (from a parent who's a
florist)
·
Free haircut once a month for a year (from a parent who's a
hairdresser)
·
Date night package - gift certificates for four for dinner
out and four movie passes
·
Kiddie auction - basket of Hot Wheels, basket of Barbie
stuff, Cold Stone Creamery party, pizza party for eight, farm-your-chores-out for
a week (snow shoveling, lawn mowing, etc.)
Homework: Find lots of fund-raising ideas on www.ptotoday.com