Aloha!

The Steele Auction is upon us!
February 9 is a mere one month away….

This year we have new opportunities for participation in the biggest fundraiser for Steele:

• Sponsor your child’s teacher*
  
• Bid on a climbing wall for gym class**
  
• And we are still accepting donations for the auction,
  including the wine cellar (through Divino Wine on South Broadway)***
  

*To sponsor your child’s teacher, you may buy all or part of a $40 ticket in the teacher’s name. Your teacher will receive a note of sponsorship with his/her ticket.
**For the climbing wall, you may either donate money prior to the event, or participate in the paddle-raising event at the auction which will raise funds for an 8’x 40’ climbing wall for the Steele Gymnasium.
***To donate to the wine cellar, visit Divino Wine and either make a cash donation or choose a bottle of wine for the cellar. The staff at Divino is available to help you choose a great bottle!

Return to Steele Auction and Luau website.

The History of the Auction

In 2003, the Stanley British Primary program at Steele Elementary was in jeopardy due to funding shortfalls. Concerned parents organized a silent auction to make up the difference with great success. In 2005, the auction became a school wide event with the initial goal of funding an additional educator for each class in both the BP and the contemporary educational programs. Last year's Country Western themed event raised almost $54,500.

Last year the PTA and the auction committee changed the auction's funding focus due to a number of reasons. The PTA was asked to use part of its budget to pay 1/2 of a teacher's salary due to Denver Public School budget cuts. Another drawback to the funding goal is that not all teachers want additional help and some are too new to mentor new paraprofessionals in their classrooms. With this in mind and short the amount to hire a full complement of additional educators for each classroom, the money raised will now go towards the Academic Development Fund. The Academic Development Fund will finance additional classroom supplies, teachers, field trips and other school needs.

Previously, Ron Buss, a Steele parent volunteer was the organizer and chair of the auction, titled Wines for Minds. Ron passed the baton to Patty Mather and Robin Hutchinson last year. They are once again both serving as co-chairs for this year's event. They're taking us from the country to the islands with a luau theme. Please join us on Saturday, February 9th, 2008 at Mile High Station for Steele's largest fundraiser of the year!