School Spirit St. Patrick’s fund-raising auction got sporty with referees, pompoms, and pennants decorating the gymnasium. More than 470 guests dressed in jerseys, cheerleading uniforms, and other athletic apparel gathered at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School on March 6 for the school’s sports-themed benefit for its financial aid program. The 36th annual auction’s venue—the school gym—was a natural fit for this year’s “Game On” theme. “It’s a wide, open space with no restrictions,” said André Wells, owner of Events by André Wells and the parent of a St. Patrick’s student, who volunteered to produce the dinner. Wells added that although the venue had its challenges (vendors were limited in when and where they could park their trucks on school property), the gym is bigger than some of the city’s hotel ballrooms. The auction’s inspiration always relates to the values of the school, and this year’s sports theme was no exception, according to St. Patrick’s assistant head of development Carrie Ahlborn, who worked with associate director of development Cathy Albo to coordinate the event. “We have a strong athletics department and this is a way to celebrate that,” Ahlborn said. “By having the theme it allows people to relax and not have to buy a new dress.” The silent auction “pep rally” in the school’s main building kicked off the evening, as parents and alumni bid on auction items and sampled Main Event Caterers’ tailgate-inspired foods, like corn dogs and nachos. At 8:30 p.m., a drum major led guests across the street for the “big game” sit-down dinner in the gym, where Wells had covered the floors with Astroturf and taped off lines to resemble a playing field. Green-and-white striped linens and sculptures of sports-related items (think footballs, sneakers, and hot dogs) by commercial sculptor A.J. Strasser topped the tables, while pompoms and crepe paper lined the walls. Rounding out the look: a popcorn bar and servers in referee uniforms. The school sold 344 tickets at $150 for the cocktail reception and dinner, and 133 tickets at $50 for the reception only. The rest of the funds raised came from online, silent, and live auction items, most of which were donated St. Patrick’s Episcopal by parents and ranged Day School “Game On” from home-cooked Auction meals to stays at Audiovisual Production, beach homes. Political Lighting John Farr Lighting commentator Tucker Design Carlson, another St. Catering Main Event Caterers Patrick’s parent, volunDecor A Vista Events, AJ teered as auctioneer for Strasser Productions L.L.C. the live auction, which Flowers Volanni defied D.C. norms by Production Events by André Wells lasting till nearly 2 a.m. Rentals Party Rental Ltd. —Adele Chapin
In addition to the green-and-white tablecloths and orange cones lining the stage, on-theme touches included gobos of the school seal and projected images of student athletes.
Homecoming essentials like crepe paper in St. Patrick’s school colors, pompoms, and tissue paper flowers livened up the stairway leading to the gym.
A striped awning gave the bar in the school gym—manned by a bartender clad in a referee uniform—a sporty look.
St. Patrick’s parent and political commentator Tucker Carlson volunteered as the evening’s auctioneer.
Pennants served as paddles for the evening’s live auction.
A concession stand selling St. Patrick’s-branded stadium blankets and pennants stood outside the gym’s entrance, next to a display of decorative trophies and a popcorn stand.
24 bizbash.com spring 2010
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