“How Did We Do At The Auction?”
On Saturday, March 16, over 400 members of the PCA community came together for the 29th Annual Auction to benefit Variable Tuition.
With the theme of Holidays and Sacred Traditions, PCA’s 29th Auction began with a delicious catered breakfast, socializing with old and new friends, and perusing the Silent Auction.
Head of School Mike Runey opened the event with a nod to the Auction’s sponsors and to the cadre of volunteers who pulled off PCA’s “largest indoor block party of the year.” Runey set the tone of the morning with prayer and a visual of this year’s goal: orange cones and signs depicting PCA’s starting point for Variable Tuition and the goal for the Auction and the entire year.
Interspersed throughout the Auction morning were live testimonials from individuals whose lives have been blessed by those who give to Variable Tuition. The first was from a PCA father-and-son duo—Justin and Simeon—who shared from the heart about the impact of Variable Tuition on their ability to join PCA for the first time this year and what it’s meant for their family of six children. “Our boys are so excited to go to school each day that they wake up extra early so they can get down to PCA and start their day.”
A second testimonial was from PCA student Tatiana, who delivered a “Dear Donor” letter to the audience, expressing her gratitude to the givers who’ve made it possible for her and her siblings to attend PCA for the past 10 years. “…PCA influenced my faith…[and] fueled my desire to learn,” said Tatiana. “All of these things that I have shared with you couldn’t have been possible without the Variable Tuition program. I would not be able to attend PCA alongside my siblings, nor be able to have such a unique and challenging education either.“
…PCA influenced my faith…[and] fueled my desire to learn,” said Tatiana. “All of these things that I have shared with you couldn’t have been possible without the Variable Tuition program. I would not be able to attend PCA alongside my siblings, nor be able to have such a unique and challenging education either.“
Tatiana, PCA Senior
Watch in the coming weeks for video testimonials from our live Auction speakers.
Bookending the testimonials was Live Auction bidding, led by seasoned auctioneer Justin Conway, and an auctioneering cameo from daughter, Adeline, who stole the show.
Bidders won exciting items, including a one-week stay at a private property in Costa Rica, a signed Carl Fiske photo, cookie-baking with Mrs. Brown, a weekend getaway in Ogunquit, a day at the shooting range with Mr. Runey, an original program from Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, handmade wreaths that showcased this year’s Auction theme, and much more!
Some of the highest-bid items were premium parking spots at the Lower and Upper Schools, marked with a customized name plate and guaranteed for the entire year.
But the highlight of Auction morning was Sponsor-a-Child, the portion of the Auction where bidders raise their paddles not to go home with a specific item, but simply to enable a child—like Simeon and Tatiana and the 314 other children who are at PCA this year because of Variable Tuition—to be able to stay or become a part of the PCA family.
“Givers to this year’s Sponsor-a-Child donated $160,000 to help bridge the financial gap that keeps some families from being able to enroll their children,” says PCA Director of Development Elaina Russo. “This is a community that lives out compassion not only with words, but with action.”
“This is a community that lives out compassion not only with words, but with action.”
Elaina Russo, Director of Development
In all, bidders and donors contributed $308,000 to this year’s Auction, including the $160,000 donated through Sponsor-a-Child.
Thank you to every sponsor, donor, bidder, parent, grandparent, friend, guest, student, volunteer, and teacher who made this year’s Auction come to life for the good of the PCA community.
Sponsor-a-Child remains open at this time, and gratitude abounds from the children and families who are blessed by donors’ giving. Tatiana’s final words in her letter to the audience sum it up: “Thank you for coming alongside me and making it possible for me to reach my goals and achieve excellence. I hope and pray that Variable Tuition continues to be a part of PCA so other kids can have the same experience that I did.”
If you’d like to bless future Tatianas and Simeons, please donate to Sponsor-a-Child before it closes for the year. You can do so online, or you can send a check to: PCA Development Office | 20 Seaborne Drive | Dover, NH 03820.
Thank you for having the impact that only you can on a young person’s future!
Mark your calendar now for NEXT YEAR’S AUCTION: March 15, 2025. It will be PCA’s 30th anniversary of the Auction. Help make it a celebration to remember by joining the event.