Saturday, February 20, 5-9pm at the

Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Salmon Street, Portland

Join the community and staff of Southwest Charter School for an evening of celebration and live music in an elegant atmosphere, as we strive to raise $60,000 in support of our public school's place-based educational programs.  See a small sampling of auction items under the 'catalog' tab above.
 

 

   

 

Check out this video to get in the spirit:

Auction Night is Coming! from Sarah on Vimeo.

Event Night Information:

Browse the class art projects and glamorous decorations, bid on silent auction items, sip on a 'signature' cocktail, then sit down to dinner, enjoy a live performance by Aaron Nigel Smith and witness the thrill of the live auction!   

 

In order to truly make this a community-wide event, we've arranged for admission to the Silent Auction/Cocktail Hour to be open to the members of the community at no cost.   If you cannot attend the dinner portion, you can register here through the 'Buy Tickets' button for the free 'Silent Auction Only' portion which happens from 5:00-7:00pm.  We hope you will invite family, friends and neighbors to register as well.  All are welcome!

 

Dinner Party Tickets:  $57 per person

(online ticket sales end at midnight on Friday, February 19)

 

Dinner Party Tables of 10:  $515 (that's one free ticket)*

Dinner Party Tables of 8:  $410 (that's 10% off)*

* Order your table online with one credit card or in the school office with check(s) no later than Wednesday, February 17, 3pm.

 

 

Dinner Party tickets include a gourmet three-course dinner and gratuity, complimentary bottles of Arborbrook wine on the tables, plus a performance by Aaron Nigel Smith and One World Chorus and, of course, the live auction.  The MAC provides complimentary parking as well.

 

 

Evening Timeline:

5:00pm   Check in, Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction Opens

6:30pm    Silent Auction Table I Closes

6:50pm    Silent Auction Table II Closes

7:00pm    Dinner Party Begins and Aaron Nigel Smith Performs

8:00pm    Live Auction Begins

9:00pm    End of Evening

 

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

I've invited friends and neighbors to the Silent Auction only.  Will they need a bid card?    

Yes, all guests on event night will need a bid card with which to buy drinks and bid on any auction items.  Cash will not be accepted at the bars.   We recommend that all guests register in the "Tickets" tab for easy check in and check out on event night. 

 

How can I/my family make a tax-deductibe donation to the auction?  All generous philanthropists can make a donation by clicking on the golden button "Make a Tax Deductible DONATION" at the top of this page. Out of town friends and family can be invited to donate by you.  Just email them a link to this site.

 

How can I purchase a spot in a Sign Up Party?  As we receive all the information for Sign Up parties like the "Third Annual Capture the Flag Tournament" we'll make them available for purchase at the bottom of the Tickets tab.  

 

How does the silent auction work?   Roughly 100 items (prices ranging from $10 to $400) will be up for bid on the tables during cocktail hour.   Guests will be given a bid number upon Check In with which to bid on and purchase items and cocktails.  The first silent auction section will close at 6:30pm.  This means all pens must be put down and bidding will end, following the auctioneer's cues.  At 6:50pm the second section will close.   Arrive early.  The time goes quickly.

 

What is the Golden Ticket?  During the Cocktail Hour/Silent Auction, only 60 Golden Tickets will be sold at $50 each to be entered into a drawing.   The drawing will be held right before the start of the Live Auction and the winner gets their pick of the live auction items.  You must attend the Dinner Party to win!

 

What is the Elephants Deli Wall of Wine?  During the Cocktail Hour/Silent Auction guests can purchase a mystery bottle for $20 with the chance they'll uncover a bottle worth $30 to $75, donated by our friends and event sponsor, Elephants Delicatessen.  

 

What is the live music?   During the Silent Auction/Cocktail Hour, SWCS parent and piano instructor Jessica Bell (Owen's mom) will delight us with her gorgeous vintage-era piano music.  At the Dinner Party, Aaron Nigel Smith will perform!  For more information, visit http://oneworldchorus.org.

 

Who will I sit with at dinner?    You can request to sit near other specific members of the community when you purchase your tickets online.  Family members and friends can also list you directly to ensure they're seated with you.   Otherwise, we'll seat you with other parents in your kids' classroom.  

 

What are the dinner meal choices?  Last year's guests raved about the dinner at the MAC!  

While purchasing your tickets online, you will have three meal choices:   

Grilled 6oz. Filet of Beef & Garlic Seared Prawns, butter whipped potatoes and market vegetables; or
Roasted Filet of Salmon, fingerling potatoes, seasonal vegetables and garlic aioli; or
(Vegan) Winter Risotto & Vegetables.    The salad and dessert courses will be both gluten free and delicious!  Fresh coffee will be served with a gluten-free dessert.  Arbor Brook Vineyards out of Newberg has graciously donated bottles of their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris for each table.

 

Where can we park?  Complimentary parking in a dedicated parking garage is just across the street (to the south) from our event.  The MAC is located at 1849 SW Salmon Street, between 18th Ave and 20th Ave, next to Providence Park (formerly Jeld-Wen Field).   The parking garage entrances are on McAlpin Way on the southeast side and on 20th Ave on the northwest side.  There is also a large turnaround area in front of the building for quick drop-off and pick-up, as well as short term handicap parking.  Longer term handicap parking is available on the first floor of the parking garage with access to the building by ramps. 

 

What is the MAC like?  With free parking, a convenient downtown location and just the right size to host us comfortably, the MAC is an ideal venue for our event.   The Silent Auction/Cocktail Hour is upstairs in a large room filled with the silent auction tables and a nice long bar.  Once the silent auction closes at 6:50pm, Dinner Party guests will go down the staircase to an elegant three-course dinner in a dining room with two large screens and an impressive sound system for Aaron Nigel Smith's performance and for viewing the annual 'tear-engineer' slideshow of the kids and the auctioneer. It's truly a night out!

 

What if I'm having a great time at the Silent Auction and want to stay for the Dinner Party?  A handful of Dinner Party tickets ($57) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for those who don't want the night to end.  You might not have the same exact meal, but you will be well fed indeed!

 

Most similar school auction tickets are $75 or $100, so why are our ticket prices so low?     Sponsors!   These local businesses ===>>   have not only covered the cost of tickets for the SWCS staff members and their guest, but they sponsor the auctioneer, auction software, decorations, printing and the audio visuals.  They have truly rallied around our school and our community and we are so grateful.

 

What should I wear?   The MAC Club prohibits flip flops, but beyond that, come dressed comfortably.  In past years, some guests have come in theme-related costumes.  This year's Vintage Hollywood theme lends nicely to a touch of glamour. But, alas, we are in Portland so if you don't know what to wear -- put on some black.  Everything is appropriate... except flip flops.

 

It's two days before the auction and I've received an email from the auction team inviting me to "Check In" before event night.  What does this mean?  A few days before the auction, we will email all registered guests an invitation to "Check In" just like the airlines do it.  You can avoid waiting in line on event night to swipe your credit card by entering the information from home.  On auction night, we'll have your bid card ready for you so you can go right into the party.

 

I submitted my family's item donation, but I don't see it in the 'Catalog' tab.  Where is it?   There are two possibilities.  First, while we finalize the bid sheets for items, we've tried to show you an enticing sampling.  Second, actual physical items will take priority in being auctioned off on event night, while gift certificates will be the focus of our Spring Online Auction held this May.  This is so we do not have to store and ship physical items during the Online Auction.  Added bonus:  The Online Auction gives onlookers the ability to look at the donor's websites while shopping.  

 

How will the funds raised be used?  Funds raised will be used to facilitate place-based learning at SWCS, thereby enhancing our students' education.  As Field Work coordinator Sarah Anderson explains it: “Placed based learning is an educational approach in which students fully participate in their local communities.  Projects are developed based on the needs of the surrounding natural and social environment…. The goal of place-based learning is healthy, sustainable communities.”

 

Other Questions?  Email sarah@mutal.net.

 

Southwest Charter School would like to recognize our very generous auction sponsors:

Zidell Logo

 

Verde Cocina

 

Hillside Imports Logo

 

Mobile West

 

Andersen Construction

 

Pearl MedSpa

 

Next Adventure

 

Arborbrook Wines Logo

 

Trailhead Credit Union

 

Elephant's on Corbett

 

Bank of the West

 

FOLK

 

Broadway Ace Hardware

 

NBP Capitol

 

Whitney Equipment

 

Path Construction

 

South Waterfront Eyecare

 

Mr. Greenbeans

 

Umpqua Bank

Southwest Charter School's Vintage Hollywood Ball

Feb 20, 2016 2:14 PM PST