How to Help

The Alvarado Auction: How you can help

I.     Donate

We ask that every family donate at least two items to support the auction’s fundraising efforts—whether you can attend the event, or not.

  • Best-selling parent-donated items at the auction include: fine wine, champagne or other similar spirits, sports tickets and other event tickets, and vacation home rentals.
  • Creative activities for a group of children also sell well, such as: science experiments, craft projects, movie nights with a special theme, and outings to interesting places. See the Count Me In Flyer for a list of some ideas for parent-made items and activities.
  • Host a themed dinner party or other social gathering, such as a wine tasting party or a dinner party with a guest chef.
  • Donate your time and creativity by offering hand-made products such as: a monthly pie delivery, frozen home-made cookie dough, hand-knit products, homemade traditional food entrees, decorated birthday cakes, a parking spot in your driveway near Alvarado, and similar items.
  • Instructions: If you are a parent and have your donation items ready to drop-off, please first complete your donor form, either online or in print. Then leave the item in the Alvarado School office and attach either a note with your name and contact info (if you filled out the donor form online) or the completed donor form. For more information on how to donate, please refer to the auction website at http://alvaradoschool.net/auction2016/donate/.

II.      Sign up to solicit donor businesses and organizations

  • Every year, dozens of parents help solicit donations from businesses, cultural organizations, and sports teams. Helping the auction co-chairs follow up with previous donors (in person, phone and/or email) is a huge support and something that can be done on your own time. Sign up in the ParentSquare group https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/129000.
  • Do you have personal connections to interesting organizations or companies that can donate to Alvarado? Gift certificates to restaurants are especially valuable! Please email auction@alvaradoschool.net to coordinate.
  • If you like to shop, we can always use your help to contact local donors. Please sign up on ParentSquare for one of the Noe Valley shopping blocks or another solicitation area. Sign up in the ParentSquare group: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/128982.

III.     Volunteer at the auction event

  • Countless volunteers will be needed around the time of auction on March 5. Please watch the Alvarado newsletter and the ParentSquare Community Forum for updates on how to sign up for these in the Parent Square group for the auction event.

IV.     Join the auction planning committee

V.     Sell raffle tickets 

  • Watch the Alvarado Newsletter for information on the raffle that runs from January until the auction event.
  • We always need volunteers to sign up for slots to sell raffle tickets at the Noe Valley Farmers market. Kids are especially effective at selling tickets, and it’s a great skill that your child can develop.

VI.     Lead or help with your classroom’s art project

  • The live auction of each classroom’s art project is a core element of the event and raises a substantial portion of the proceeds. Please email auction@alvaradoschool.net if you’d like to talk about ideas.

VII.     Sponsor the auction

  • Parents and local community businesses are invited to help underwrite the costs of the auction. Sponsors receive promotion through our Alvarado website, the Noe Valley Voice, the Alvarado PTA Annual Report, our Alvarado Newsletter, the Alvarado Facebook page and via our printed auction posters.
  • Depending on the sponsorship level, sponsors receive additional tickets to the Alvarado Auction and raffle tickets with their donation.  Any monetary contribution is greatly appreciated and tax deductible. If you are interested in sponsoring the auction, please contact the auction chairs at auction@alvaradoschool.net or select the appropriate sponsorship level on the registration page.