By Amanda Kludt
Two pieces of kindergarten art proved to be the big-ticket items selling at $4,100 and $4,200 at a high-profile auction held in the Puck Building last Friday night. The auction was none other than P.S. 41’s annual fundraiser for enrichment programs and the school managed to raise a record $100,000 from the event.
“I think it was an absolutely fabulous evening that brought parents of current students and parents of alumni and alumni together,” said Lois Weiswasser, P.S. 41’s principal. “The momentum and spirit is really what Greenwich Village is all about.”
Jill Tapia, P.S. 41’s P.T.A. co-president and auction chairperson, said the event was a result of months and months of planning and was their biggest success to date. The core group of around 20 individuals solicited donations from parents, corporations and local businesses and received over 600 individual items as well as food and entertainment for the event. She says the biggest donation was the space of the Puck Building itself, donated by Tapia’s sister who had done work for the owners of the building. “We were really lucky for that,” said Tapia, noting the space contributed an added level of class to the whole event.
The auctions consisted of a live competitive auction with a professional auctioneer, William J. Roland, and a silent auction where participants could bid on merchandise laid out around the room. The auction also had live mariachi music and a D.J., and various local businesses donated hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages.
Tapia said she was happy with the event and said fundraisers like these are important for the school system. “It just goes to show if you have a great team of people and if you work hard together you can do it,” she said. “You can raise money for things you need and want your children to have.”
The money will go to the school’s extra programs that don’t receive public money, including art, music, chess, theater and special speakers. Weiswasser and parents, as well, have stressed the importance of the annual auction for making these programs possible.
