Something else we did to creat excitement is we take picture of each classroom item and create a flyer with the picture and description. We send those home with each classroom so the parents can see ahead of time what their child's class made and will be auctioned off. We also post these on the school website so parents can see all the classroom items. This helps parents see ahead of time the great item they just have to come and bid on.

Our school does an Art Auction every year. We do a silent auction with local artwork and items donated and a live auction where each classroom creates a piece or art (canvas, pottery, etc.) and we auction those off. We've added new stuff each year to freshen it up. Two years ago we added a "pet rock museum" which the kids painted pet rocks in art class and could come adopt them at the Art Auction for a donation. Last year we added a "Masterpiece Art Gallery" where the kids made their own rendition of a Masterpiece (Mona Lisa, Monet, etc) and we hung them up all around the room. Parents could take their child's masterpiece home for a donation. We also added classroom entertainment, where some of the classes perform before we auction their classroom item off. This added a lot of money because it got parent there which has been our key to raising more money. If the parents are there, they can't bid. My suggestion is to find ways to get parents there.

ah, good idea about the TV news personalities. That just reminded me of an auction at one of my girl's preschools years ago. It was mc'd by a local weatherman and he did great! Also really good points about the importance of publicity. Thanks so much for sharing this.. It helps a lot!

We are fortunate this year for a volunteer MC. His wife is our bookkeeper, so he is vested in our survival. It helps that he is a licensewd auctioneer, too. Last year he was out of town, and we hired an auctioneer who also was a former news personality. He charged $100 to cover some of his expenses, but we still thought it was worth it. He got several people to overbid on items (including my husband despite my begging him to stop. In our area, news personalities often do charity events for free or little money. And, I asked one of my adult children (our eight kids are 31 to 10) to set up the website. It was free, and many have checked it out. We offer incentives (fish bowl tickets) according to how early you buy your tickets. My son also set up the event on Facebook, and everyone in the school was encouraged to "share" it. This brought in sales from others not affiliated with the school to help a charity event. Check your parents/older siblings of students/computer teacher about doing a website. And we send updates through church and school. Getting the word out is paramount. Also many newspapers have community events pages for free listings, and radio and television stations offer public service time for free. We also get a local weather personality to give a tour of the station with winners being able to watch the news OR he will visit the classroom to talk weather. Our fire department offers a dinner for six at any of the firehouses that costs us $50 for their costs. Three couples split the cost, but together paid $600. With dinner they get a tour of the station. Our pastor also made dinner for six at his home, but only made $300. Tried to get the principal to do it too but she wasn't comfortable with the idea. Many people want some time to get to know their leaders, so it is always worth trying. My sister's pastor donates use of his classic Corvette for a weekend, but have to be 25 or older to bid. Makes big money, and the winning bidders have generally bought other items to go with it (dinner/theter/symphony tickets)