LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Friends, Welcome to Burke’s Auction for Financial Aid, our annual celebration of the socioeconomic diversity of our school. Despite the requisite Zoom grid, we’ve worked hard to ensure that tonight’s retro sitcom and game show-themed gathering will have the same wit and whimsy as any Burke Auction. I hope you enjoy it. Moreover, the necessity of this event has only deepened over these last several months, as the need for additional Financial Aid dollars has increased significantly. Your participation helps us maintain a vibrant, diverse school community – where teachers and students form strong and lasting connections; where we embrace myriad identities, ideas, and interests; and where we support one another through both joyful and difficult times. I am thankful for all who made this event possible, including our hardworking volunteers, the Development Office, and many faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have helped to support this year’s reimagined Auction. Thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated, reached out, and contributed in so many other ways. I sincerely hope that you join me in embracing this exciting opportunity to stand together in celebration of our community and the value of a Burke education. Remember, every dollar raised this evening goes to directly support our Financial Aid program, so bid early and often! With deep gratitude,
Damian R. Jones Head of School
LETTER FROM THE AUCTION COMMITTEE LETTER FROM THE AUCTION COMMITTEE LETTER FROM THE AUCTION COMMITTEE Dear Burke Family and Friends, We are so very excited to welcome you to the 2021 Auction for Financial Aid! Though we cannot celebrate this annual tradition together in person as we usually do, more than ever, we are delighted for this opportunity to come together as a community. We have been hard at work planning a virtual celebration that we hope conveys all of the joy, creativity, and passion that makes Burke unique, and we invite you to join us! What better reason to come together as a community than for an evening of celebration and uniting to support the school and people we all care deeply about? As Burke parents, we feel passionately about standing together to ensure that our school is positioned to do everything in its power to provide financial assistance to support the families and students who make Burke, Burke. Especially during what has been a most unprecedented year, we have tremendous gratitude for the incredible outpouring of support from so many individuals in our immediate and extended community who share our hope of making this year’s Auction effort a success. On behalf of Burke, we are most thankful to all who have shared their time, talents, and resources as we prepared for this important event and are humbled by your generosity. We can’t wait for you to see what Burke has in store for you. We hope all of our fellow Burke families and friends are looking forward to this virtual celebration with as much excitement and anticipation as we are! When the time comes, we hope you will join us in bidding and raising your paddles high, as together we reaffirm our commitment to upholding Burke’s mission by keeping our diverse community whole. Cheers, Your Auction Committee Dawn Chism P‘21 ‘24 Wendy Cividanes P‘21 Kelly Kenneally P‘22 ‘25 Kathleen Strouse P‘17 ‘22 Kira Swencki P‘22
Business & Corporate Sponsors A special thank you to all of our generous Business & Corporate sponsorship partners!
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS 1. A MIDDLEBURG, VA DREAM GETAWAY Winding roads lined with horse farms and expansive fields set the scene for your stay at the Goodstone Inn, a 265-acre equestrian dream. It’s pure tranquility, just a 90-minute scenic drive from DC. Each room is luxurious and unique, offering traditional hunt country decor and intimate spaces overlooking the gardens. The property is home to a working farm that supplies the highly-rated restaurants run by Executive Chef Jan Van Haute, former executive chef to the US Ambassador to Belgium. Meals are served in a breathtaking glass-enclosed conservatory that overlooks the property’s rolling hills, or the second level casual bistro. You can do nothing at all, or participate in on-site activities - from hiking to kayaking, to birding, and visiting farm animals including the resident alpaca. The inn also has a lovely spa with two treatment rooms. And of course, a Middleburg visit isn’t complete without visiting one of the many world-renowned vineyards and historic landmarks set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This $1,500 gift certificate provides maximum flexibility for the getaway of your choosing, but could be applied to two nights in a Premier Suite or Standard Cottage and dinner for two, plus maybe a second meal or a spa treatment. https://www.goodstone.com Restrictions: Includes a $1,500 gift certificate to Goodstone Inn, which may be redeemed for any activities or services of your choice. Subject to availability. Winner is encouraged to book their arrangements with as much notice as possible.
Donated by: Goodstone Inn, Kira Swenki and Michael Mihalke
2. PELOTON+ EXERCISE BIKE Peloton at Nite...or whenever you feel like it! Burn off pandemic stress with the hottest home exercise equipment since the thigh master. These swanky bikes are so in demand that the wait can be up to ten weeks… but we pre-ordered and included delivery so the newest Bike+ model can be delivered to your home right away! The hot feature of the new Bike+ is the bigger HD screen that tilts and rotates. That means you can unclip from your spin class, swivel the screen, and move right into a yoga, Pilates, or strength class. And if you want to connect with friends during your workout, the front-facing camera means you can chat with pals during class – or not if you prefer to work out solo. Bike+ also boasts improved audio features, including front-facing speakers, and rear-facing woofers for a booming experience – with or without earbuds. With a 4 foot by 2 foot footprint, this sleek bike belongs in any home. For more information, go to https://www.onepeloton.com/shop/bike-plus/ bike-plus-basics-package-us. Restrictions: Includes bike and home delivery, but not a subscription to online classes. Bike can only be delivered within DC, or locally in Maryland or Virginia. The bike includes a 24-month limited parts and labor warranty.
Donated by: Dawn Chism, Mic’s Moving
3. TEE UP OR WIND DOWN GETAWAY IN PINEHURST, NC Head south to Pinehurst, NC, home to one of the best golf resorts in the US. In addition to nine 18-hole golf courses, Pinehurst also is home to three luxury hotels and multiple top-rated dining facilities. If golf isn’t your game, there’s so much more. Schedule a massage, play tennis, bike the trails, sip a Piña colada by the pool, or shop in the unique boutiques in the New England-style Village of Pinehurst. With a $1,500 gift certificate, you can customize your Pinehurst experience. https://wwww.pinehurst.com/ Restrictions: Includes a $1,500 gift certificate to Pinehurst Resort, which may be redeemed for any activities or services of your choice. Subject to availability and some golf restrictions apply. Winner is encouraged to book their arrangements with as much notice as possible.
Donated by: Pinehurst Resort, Kira Swenki and Michael Mihalke
4. FRENCH WINE & CHEESE TOUR (AT HOME!) Oui, oui! You may not be doing much international travel quite yet, but you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to transport yourself to France - all from the comfort of your own home. The pleasures begin in some of the most bustling and beautiful French wine regions with a tantalizing assortment of nine bottles of delectable French wines. Then, your experience will unfold into a stunning collection of eight premier Champagnes. Savor every sip as you pair each selection with the best French bread stateside from Fresh Baguette in Georgetown and a delightful selection of cheeses and charcuterie from La Jambe in Union Market. Bleu d’Auvergne from the high altitudes of the Midi- Pyrenees, Delice de Bourgogne from Burgundy, or Mimolette, a cheese originally created at the request of Louis XIV… the artisanal cheese collection is endless, and you’ll have your pick! Champagne lovers, get ready for the showstopper: this package includes an extremely rare bottle of Billecart-Salmon’s “Cuvée 200,” valued at $2,600. One of Champagne’s finest houses, lauded for its elegance and consistent quality, Billecart-Salmon released a limited number of 1,818 magnum bottles of their Bicentenary Cuvée to worldwide collectors. It is truly Champagne fit for a celebration - but only a precious few bottles have made their way to the United States. Based on Pinot Noir, with 4% each Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, the “Cuvée 200” combines intensity and impact with the house’s characteristic freshness and poise. This is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime package for connoisseurs and a must-have for your next milestone celebration. Restrictions: This package includes gift certificates to La Jambe ($150) and Fresh Baguette ($50). It also includes the following wine and Champagne selections: Champagne Billecart-Salmon Cuvée 200; Champagne Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint Hilaire Brut 2003; Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé; Champagne Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Brut Rosé 2007; Champagne Billecart-Salmon Vintage 2008 (2); Champagne Veuve Clicquot Brut; Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Rosé de Saignée; Guy Amiot et Fils Grand Vin de Bourgogne 2014 Chassagne Montrachet Cru Les Verges; Domaine Coffinet Duvernay Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets 2015; Sancerre Le Petit Silex 2019; Fabre en Provence Côtes de Provence 2018; Ott Château Romassan Bandol (2); La Tour Pavée Bordeaux Supérieur 2018; Famille Duveau Saumur Champigny 2018; Maison La Villette Pinot Noir 2018
Donated by: Bacchus Wine Cellar, Kira Swencki & Michael Mihalke, La Jambe, Fresh Baguette
5. YOUR OWN BACKYARD OASIS If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the pandemic, there’s no place like home! We’ve all been looking for ways to make our homes more livable and spacious, including enhancing our outdoor space. Now, you can create a more cozy and inviting outdoor oasis for reconnecting with family and friends. Use your $1,000 gift certificate from Burke parent-owned Rasevic Landscape Company, to re-imagine or freshen up your outdoor space. This Washington Post featured local business provides full service home landscaping maintenance for your home - lawn care, landscaping design, landscape renovations, and installations, as well as holiday decorating services. Stay warm year-round with a Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit. This is the Peloton of fire pits, with long wait lists. Solo is portable, with a sleek modern design, along with built-in technology that creates clean, chemical-free air and an efficient burn without pesky smoke. Then, invite friends over for a socially-distanced night at the movies with a Bomaker HD Portable Backyard Movie Projector, VIVOHOME 14-foot inflatable screen, and JBL Charge Essential Portable Bluetooth Speaker. And your guests will be oh-so comfortable in the summer months with a full season of platinum mosquito and tick yard treatments from Mosquito Strikers – eight treatments from May through November.
Restrictions: Winner must pick up all items from Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC. Cannot be shipped. Gift certificate for Rasevic Landscape Company for $1,000 may be used for landscape design/consultation, installation, or maintenance services. Expires December 31, 2021. Mosquito Strikers certificate is for the 2021 season only. All services must be used in the District or local VA or MD area.
Donated by: Rasevic Landscape Company, Mosquito Strikers, Stephen Bocanegra and
Meredith Rathbone, Michelle Russo and Geoff Galster, Jennifer Kozak Rawlings and Jason DeVinney
6. CREATE YOUR OWN GETAWAY What could be better during a pandemic than escaping your home for the weekend and not worrying about what’s for dinner? Go anywhere your heart desires, and take your cooler packed with three days of gourmet meals for four people, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and beverages. This escape includes a $1,500 Airbnb gift certificate so you can pick the date and location that works for you - the beach, a cabin in the mountains, or a different city. Before you head out, grab your Weekend Getaway Dining Package from RSVP Catering and feast on breakfast burritos, charcuterie, Caribbean chicken, summer fruit cobbler, basil vodka lemonade and more! Don’t wait – book your escape and custom cooler. To learn more about the food package, go to https://www.rsvpcatering.com/store/weekend-getaway/. Restrictions: Airbnb gift certificate subject to booking availability. RSVP Catering gift certificate should be redeemed with as much advance notice as possible. Donated by: Airbnb, RSVP Catering
7. PLEASE, I NEED A DATE NIGHT! We’re all desperate for special time with our partners (and friends!), but it is hard to know where to begin in these times. We’ve done the work to curate a package of at-home date nights featuring 10 gift certificates to some of the finest and tastiest DC-area restaurant experiences, including a virtual wine and cheese tasting with Cheesetique, and gift certificates to Sushi Taro; Maydan; Tail Up Goat; Rose’s at Home (Rose’s Luxury); Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants (Sfoglina, Del Mar, Fiola Mare); Jose Andres ThinkFoodGroup Restaurants; 1789 Restaurant (Clyde’s Restaurant Group); Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Rasika, Sababa, Bindaas) and Starr Restaurant Group (LeDiplomate, St. Anselm’s). The package also includes a custom-curated wine case by a local sommelier to sip together on casual date nights at home while you binge your favorite show. These gift certificates largely do not expire, so use them to take advantage of special at-home dining packages or wait for safer days to dine-in with the ambience provided by these exquisite locations! Restrictions: The package includes gift certificates to: Cheesetique ($200); Sushi Taro ($200); Maydan ($150); Tail Up Goat ($150); “Rose’s at Home” with Rose’s Luxury ($99 for a one- night membership); “Fabio at Home” with Fabio Trabocchi ($250); Jose Andres ThinkFoodGroup ($150); 1789 Restaurant ($200 for Clyde’s Restaurant Group); Tail Up Goat ($150); “Rose’s at Home” with Rose’s Luxury ($99 for a one- night membership); Fiola Mare ($150 for Fabio Trabocchi Group); Jose Andres ThinkFoodGroup ($150); Maydan ($150); Knightsbridge Restaurant Group ($150); and Starr Restaurant Group ($150). Package also includes a custom-curated case of wine valued at up to $450. Tax and gratuity are not included for restaurants. All gift certificates are subject to availability. Unless otherwise noted, all gift certificates are valid for one year from the date of the event.
Donated by: Kira Swencki and Michael Mihalke, Lauren Herrington and Eric Carter, Amy Cataldo and
Stuart Turner, Noriko and Aaron Maitland, Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants, Burke Classes of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027.
AUCTION GUIDELINES AUCTION GUIDELINES AUCTION GUIDELINES HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUCTION ON APRIL 17! HOW TO TUNE IN
We will send you a Zoom link to our Virtual Auction Event via email in advance. We suggest setting up one laptop or primary device to watch the Virtual Auction Event while having another device available to you so that you can bid and “raise your paddle” (virtually) on our Online Auction website at the same time. You can also do this in another tab on your computer, if you prefer. To ensure that you have the best possible experience during the Virtual Auction Event, please make sure that you’re in a place with a strong WiFi connection, that you close other programs and internet windows on your device, and that you minimize the use of other WiFi-accessing devices during the event. It will be helpful to restart your computer prior to this event and ensure you have the latest version of Zoom! These steps may help to prevent your device from freezing.
HOW TO BID AND DONATE
Please ensure that you have registered to bid on our Online Auction website prior to the event. It will launch on April 12 and continue throughout the April 17 event, ending at 10:30pm EST that evening. By registering and attaching a credit card to your account, you’ll be able to participate instantly during the Virtual Auction Event. After the Auction, we’ll send you an acknowledgment for your tax deductible contributions.
Pre Register and Bid on the Online Auction website: https://burke2021.ggo.bid GENERAL AUCTION RULES
Unless otherwise specified, all Auction items and services must be used within one year after April 17, 2021. Please note carefully the terms and restrictions set forth by the donor. Unless specified, dates and times are to be arranged at the mutual convenience of the donor and the buyer. All sales are final, and there will be no refunds or exchanges except where specified. Everything is sold “as is.” All private vacation homes are offered to adults, and minors must be accompanied by adults. All alcohol must be purchased by adults 21 and over. The Auction Committee reserves the right to withdraw any item that, in its judgment, fails to receive an adequate bid. At the time of purchase, the buyer waives any claims for liability against either the school or the donor of property and neither the school nor the donor is responsible for any personal injuries or damages to property that might result from the utilization of property or services sold.
AUCTION GUIDELINES AUCTION GUIDELINES AUCTION GUIDELINES If COVID-related restrictions prevent the buyer from being able to redeem an item please contact the Development Office to discuss further (this applies only to circumstances such as changes in availability or policy). All items will be mailed and/or available for pickup at Edmund Burke School beginning the week of May 3, 2021. The Development Office will share additional instructions with Auction winners following the event on April 17.
TAX INFORMATION
When you purchase Auction items, your receipt includes a good faith estimate of the value of the item(s) you purchased. Values have been estimated as closely as possible to fair market value; however, Edmund Burke School is not a professional appraiser and is not responsible for the accuracy of such valuations. The charitable deduction for the purchase of items at the auction is limited to the amount by which the payment exceeds the fair market value of that item.
BIDDING PROCEDURE FOR THE ONLINE AUCTION
Bidding will open online on Monday, April 12th and will commence at 10:30pm on Saturday, April 17th, after the Virtual Auction Event. Visit https://burke2021.ggo.bid.
BIDDING PROCEDURE FOR THE LIVE AUCTION
Live Auction items will be available to preview in advance, but they will officially open for bidding during the Virtual Auction Event on Saturday, April 17th during the special Live Auction portion of the event. Registering in advance on our Online Auction website will ensure that you have an easy time bidding on Live Auction Items! *Auction item descriptions may be amended at any point prior to the event. Please see the website for final descriptions.
The Auctioneer and the Director of Development will have sole and final discretion to determine the winning bid, to withdraw an item, or to resell an item.
IMPORTANT LINKS
Virtual Auction Event: Zoom link to be emailed Happy Hours: Zoom links to be emailed Online Auction (& Bidding/Paddle Raise Pre-Registry):
HTTPS://BURKE2021.GGO.BID
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU 2021 AUCTION FOR FINANCIAL AID The Auction for Financial Aid is Burke’s cornerstone fundraising event of the year, and its success depends on community involvement. We are proud that Burke dedicates such a substantial portion of our annual budget to Financial Aid – and that wouldn’t be possible without you! During the pandemic, the need for financial assistance in our community has increased greatly, and we remain committed to doing everything possible to meet that need. More than ever, the Auction plays a vital role in supporting our families and keeping our community whole.
THANK YOU! We are grateful to the many volunteers and members of the Burke community who helped to make Burke’s Virtual Auction Event a success!
Auction Committee
Dawn Chism P‘21 ‘24 Wendy Cividanes P‘21 Kelly Kenneally P‘22 ‘25 Kathleen Strouse P‘17 ‘22 Kira Swencki P‘22
Auction Helpers
Monique Coleman P‘21 Laura Lauth Schneck P‘24 Patricia Levy-Zuckerman P‘22 Pamela Roberts P‘24 Maria Rodil P‘25 Siobhan Roth ‘88 P‘26 Monique Willard P‘21
Board of Trustees Development Committee Sharon Davis, Board President P‘19 Wendy Cividanes, Co-Chair P‘21 Kira Swencki, Co-Chair P‘22 Emily Alexander P‘16 Sydney Bath P‘18 Dawn Chism P‘21 ‘24 Jonica Gibson P‘23 Lisa Hall P‘22
Brian McMaster P‘17 ‘22 Siobhan Roth ‘88 P‘26 Kathleen Strouse P‘17 ‘22 Monique Willard P‘21 Carole Yanofsky ‘83 P‘23
Cast & Event Production Jim Gagne Sean Felix Sarah Schriber Wan Ryu
Development Team
Jennifer Kozak Rawlings Kate Maskarinec Susan Kay Jones
Marketing & Communications Team Julia Harman Cain Jadéa Asante