The Craig’s List Posting Soliciting Items for South County Secondary School’s 4th Annual Silent Auction

(The Craig’s List posting soliciting items for South County Secondary School’s 4th Annual Silent Auction)

Spring, 2010

Dear Community Members and Business Owners,

In 2002, 26 year old Heather Gardner lost her battle with breast cancer. In order to continue Heather’s fight, and support the millions of women and men affected annually by breast cancer, the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society in Fairfax County Public School’s South County Secondary School will hold their 4th Annual Talent Show & Silent Auction on April 15, 2010.

This event was established in 2006 to raise funds for Team Heather’s (www.ourteamheather.wordpress.com) annual efforts in the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure (www.tiny.cc/teamheather2010). Of the over $241,500.00 Team Heather has raised since Heather’s death, South County Secondary School is responsible for collecting an astonishing $22,000 towards breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

To ensure the success of our 2010 fundraising efforts in the battle against this disease, our student-driven event desperately needs community and business involvement in one of two areas.

First, we are in need of high-interest items (item ideas listed below) for our two-week long Silent Auction, kicking off on April 1, 2010. While the Silent Auction is held in conjunction with our school event, it is designed and intended for adult bidding: parents, teachers, and staff. High-interest items from past auctions have included donations from Gold’s Gym, Pizzeria Paradiso, Louisville Slugger, Hotel Rouge, Dante Ristorante, Bobby Van’s Grill, and many more.

Second, we are in need of smaller prizes (item ideas listed below) for the event’s raffle, highest pledge winners, and show finalists.

During these difficult financial times, we realize that participating in a breast cancer fundraiser might take an extra effort on your part. We hope you take inspiration from 7th-12th grade students playing such an active role in this global movement to end breast cancer and contribute.

It is very easy to do so, simply read the list of silent auction item ideas below; search your address books, neighborhood connections, religious institutions, and local businesses for folks who might be able to and are interested in supporting the cause of breast cancer, contact Shawn Gardner (gardnershawn68@aol.com) and add to our event’s growing list of items.

In a recent dinner celebrating Team Heather’s accomplishments, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, sister of Susan Komen and founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, spoke of her profound appreciation for this community’s commitment to the battle against breast cancer. If you are interested in supporting this commitment, please contact Shawn Gardner (gardnershawn68@aol.com). Thank you in advance; together, we CAN make a difference!

Sincerely,
Shawn Gardner
South County Secondary School Event Sponsor
gardnershawn68@aol.com

SCSS Silent Auction and Show Item Ideas

Home and House
1. Gift certificate for maid service
2. Tool box filled with new tools
3. Electronics: stereo system, iPod, television, etc.
4. Set of CDs around a certain theme
5. Digital camera or video camera
6. Artwork
7. Gift certificate for a painting of your house
8. Gift certificate for a room makeover
9. Gift certificate for a session with a professional organizer
10. Handyman gift certificate
11. Box/bucket of fancy cleaning products
12. Handmade pottery
13. Gift certificate from a local photographer
14. Handmade cards, photo album, etc.
15. Gift basket related to a specific craft (for example, stamping, or knitting)
16. Gift certificate for a craft class
17. Handmade quilt or certificate for handmade quilt
18. Baskets themed around a holiday (for example, a Christmas basket could include ornaments, holiday candles, a tree skirt, stockings, etc.)
19. Electric tools
20. Silk or dried floral arrangement
21. Household items such as vases, bowls, platters, candlesticks, pillows
22. Complete tabletop: includes set of dishes for eight, table cloth, napkins, candle holders, silverware, crystal, etc.
23. Gift certificates from local gift shops
24. Piano tuning
25. Collectible doll/figurine
26. Artificial/decorated Christmas tree
27. Longaberger basket
28. Dyson vacuum cleaner
29. Use of a dumpster for a week

Trips, Getaways, and Just Fun
1. Use of vacation home
2. Bed & Breakfast
3. Downtown hotel stay
4. Resorts
5. Limousine service
6. Airline tickets
7. Hot air balloon ride
8. Sailing or boat cruise
9. Tickets to local arts and culture events (music, theatre, dance, opera, museums etc)
10. Gift certificate for dance lessons
11. Limo ride
12. Horsedrawn carriage ride
13. Hot air balloon ride
14. Tour of a local winery with a private wine tasting
15. Gift certificate for bowling
16. Gift certificate for a bed and breakfast
17. Small getaway packages
18. Weekend in a cabin or condo
19. Weekend hot tub rental
20. A musical performance in your home

Sports and Sporting Events
1. Rounds of golf or tennis
2. Tickets for a professional or college game: hockey, basketball, baseball, football,
3. Memorabilia signed by professional players (baseball, bobble head, photo, jersey)
4. Sports equipment: golf clubs, tennis racket, fishing rod, tackle box filled with lures
5. Gift certificate for golf, diving, tennis, riding, skiing, etc. lessons
6. Gift certificate for round of golf at local club
7. Sunglasses
8. Half day of guided fishing
9. Gym membership
10. Tent, sleeping bag, cookstove, etc.
11. Binoculars
12. Ski lift ticket certificates

For Her
1. Classic jewelry (for example, a single strand of pearls)
2. Gift certificate from a local jeweler
3. Handmade jewelry
4. Gift certificate for manicure, pedicure, massage, haircut, spa day
5. Basket of spa/bath products (for example The Thymes, Crabtree and Evelyn, etc.)
6. Basket of fine soaps, lotion, etc.
7. Handmade/hand-knit scarves
8. Relaxation basket: bubble bath, aroma therapy candle, CD of quiet music, etc.
9. Handbag from Coach, Brighton, etc.

Children
1. Family Fun Box: a plastic tub filled with various board and card games, snacks (such as microwave popcorn, licorice, Goldfish, Skittles), and/or a Blockbuster gift certificate
2. Baby basket filled with lotion, powder, bibs, blanket, toys, etc.
3. Set of childrens books
4. Set of childrens toys
5. Set of childrens DVDs
6. Playhouse (outdoor)
7. Gift certificate for admission to the Childrens Museums, Museums, Zoos, etc.
8. Toy store gift certificates
9. Gift certificate for a visit from Santa at your home
10. Gift certificate for a clown at a birthday party
11. Gift certificate for a pony at a birthday party
12. Bicycle
13. Admission to a water park or other theme park

Food and Drink
1. Gourmet foods
2. Cooking lessons or gift certificate for a cooking class
3. Gift certificates from local restaurants (both fine and casual)
4. Fine bottle(s) of wine
5. Single bottles of hard liquor (such as scotch)
6. Themed bar baskets (for example, everything you need to make a martini: vodka (or gin), a shaker, martini glasses, olives, etc.)
7. A sample pack of exotic beers
8. Gift certificate from a make and take business
9. Sets of cookbooks
10. Set of good kitchen knives
11. Small (but somewhat fancy) kitchen appliances: a KitchenAid mixer, espresso machine
12. Gift certificate for a cookie a month, dessert a month, etc. (could be donated by a professional or by someone within your organization who bakes just like a professional)
13. Baskets: Chocolate basket, coffee basket, bread basket, wild rice basket: any type of theme can work! Include actual product, gift certificates for product, ingredients and tools to make product, cookbooks be creative!
14. Gift certificate/basket from a local food coop or food artisan (such as a chocolate, honey, cheese or wine maker)
15. Dinner prepared by a local chef or someone within your organization
16. Certificate from a local brewery to learn how to make your own beer
17. Set of wine glasses or barware
18. Set of BBQ tools
19. Year supply of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies

House and Garden
1. Antiques
2. Oriental carpets
3. Appliances
4. Kitchen equipment
5. Gift certificate from a local nursery
6. Gift certificate from a local florist (could be a single certificate or for a flower/plant a month)
7. Tote of garden tools
8. Garden bench
9. Garden boot cleaner
10. Copper fire pit
11. Garden sculpture
12. Bird feeder and bird feed
13. Gift certificate from a local landscaper
14. Gift certificate for dirt, rock, mulch
15. Gift certificate from a lawn service
16. Use of a piece of heavy landscape equipment for a weekend
17. Adirondack chairs
18. Porch swing
19. Patio furniture
20. Lawn mower
21. Snow blower
22. BBQ grill
23. Yard cleanup/gutter cleaning/window washing gift certificate

Professional Services
1. Accountant
2. Personal trainer
3. Photographer
4. Interior designer
5. Landscape designer
6. Computer consultant
7. Lawyer (simple will or other service)
8. Massage therapist
9. Florist

Arts and Crafts
1. Paintings, Drawings, and Prints
2. Ceramics
3. Fine jewelry
4. Quilts and hangings
5. Handmade clothing
6. Art classes

Electronics
1. I-Pod
2. Digital camera
3. Laptop computer

Gift Certificates
1. Restaurants
2. Books and CDs
3. Clothing and accessories
4. Beauty salon
5. Car wash

Cultural Events
1. Concert tickets
2. Theater tickets
3. Movie tickets
4. Personal museum tour

Special Events
1. Hosted dinner
2. Hosted kids party
3. Catering
4. Music for a party
5. Facility rental

Miscellaneous
1. Gift certificate for tax preparation
2. Personal coaching sessions
3. Teeth whitening gift certificate
4. Basket of pet related items
5. Gift certificate for veterinary services
6. Items signed by celebrities
7. Gift certificates for car washes or detailing