Bullis Gala 2013

Everything You Need to Know About the Gala
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The Gala

  • The Gala is Bullis School’s largest social fundraising event of the year. This year it will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013, in the Athletic Center starting at 6:30pm. 
  • The theme for this year’s Gala is “A Red Carpet Affair” (a Hollywood theme).  
  • The Gala raises funds in support of student financial aid and faculty professional development programs. Last year’s Gala raised more than $163,000. 
  • Our Gala Co-Chairs are parent volunteers (Audrey Friedlander and Tammy McKnight) and dozens of other parents get involved working on committees to plan decorations, get sponsors and advertisers, find auction items, plan publicity and ticket sales (etc.). You can join us now or any time leading up to the event. 
  • Volunteering is a lot of fun and a great way to get involved at school and meet other parents!
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Raise the Paddle

  • Raise the Paddle takes place during the Gala live auction when the auctioneer asks everyone to literally raise their auction paddles if they’d like to contribute to a special fund for a special annual project. The auctioneer asks for donations at different price points, starting at $100 and continuing to $10,000 and beyond. Participants can choose a comfortable commitment level. 
  • Every year we select a worthy school improvement project to be the immediate beneficiary of Raise the Paddle. Previous years have financed renovation of classrooms; last year’s project was the total redesign of the Penny Bunting Terrace, now a focal point on campus with plenty of gathering space for students and staff.  
  • This year’s project will be announced in January 2013. 
  • $93,000 of donations were contributed last year to Raise the Paddle by alumni, parents, faculty, staff and grandparents.

Before:

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After:

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Love Notes

  • Love Notes support the Gala and contribute to financial aid and faculty professional development programs. 
  • Love Notes are candy grams (including microwave popcorn and more) that are distributed to students during a school day and come with your personalized note letting the student(s) know you’re thinking about them.
  • This year’s Love Notes will be delivered on Friday, March 1, at the end of the school day. 
  • Parents, grandparents, friends and relatives are all welcome to send Love Notes to students, in all grades. The cost of a Love Note is $80 for the first student and $20 for each additional student. To purchase a love note, fill out the form here and return it by mail, email or fax by Friday, January 25. 
  • Last year Love Notes raised over $16,000!

Class Baskets

  • With the help of a parent volunteer, each class picks a class basket theme to donate to the Gala. 
  • Look for emails from your grade room parent with more details of your class involvement.  
  • Checks can be dropped off in the Lower, Middle or Upper School offices. Please make checks payable to “Bullis School” and put them in an envelope addressed to Laura Wolf/Advancement Office; include your child’s grade and name. The average donation is $25; however, any amount is greatly appreciated! 
  • Interested in working with the Class Gift Coordinator, Jodi Bank and being your grade coordinator? Contact

Faculty/Staff Tickets

  • Faculty and staff are provided complimentary tickets to attend the Gala thanks to generous sponsors and donations. Donations cover the cost of faculty, staff and their guest tickets. 
  • You can sponsor a faculty or staff member by filling out the form here.

Wine Tasting

  • The Wine Tasting is the official kick-off event for the Gala season. 
  • This year’s Wine Tasting, on Friday, January 25, 2013 in The Blair Family Center for the Arts, will feature wines of California. This event is a fun social gathering of Bullis parents, faculty, alumni and friends to learn about fine wines, eat delicious food and and meet new people in the Bullis community. 
  • Admission for the Wine Tasting is one bottle of wine per attendee (suggested minimum value of $25 per bottle). Need help picking out wine? Look for information in the Wine Tasting invitation (sent out in January) on how to order your wine and have it delivered directly to Bullis for the event!  
  • The donated wines are auctioned off at the Gala. Total Wine & More, Gala and Wine Tasting sponsor, helps to create a 50-bottle wine cellar, smaller wine packages and the wine pull, all Gala auction items. 
  • The Bullis Wine Cellar raised $5,200 in the live auction!

Bidpal

  • At the Gala, all of the bidding for the silent auction is done on electronic bidding devices (iPod touches). It’s a fun way to bid with a touch of a button! You can find items by viewing categories, entering the item number or check out any items with no bids! 
  • You can make Max Bid amounts—Bidpal will bid on your behalf in increments so you can socialize with people from the Bullis Community.

How Can YOU Get Involved With the Gala?

Gala co-chairs Audrey Friedlander
and Tammy McKnight