It’s time for the Oak Bay Parent Owned Preschool’s annual Silent Auction, and this year’s event is on track to being the best ever.
The preschool has been in existence for more than 47 years and operates as a parent owned opportunity to be a part of the children’s first school experiences.
The school is owned and managed by the parents of the children attending the school. It operates as a co-op, where parents can be in the classroom, watching their child learn and grow.
“Our preschool is run entirely by volunteers who have to make a commitment to contribute their time to the operation. All the families take on a job within the preschool …they fundraise…and they spend one or two days a month right in the classroom. It all combines to keep our tuition as low as possible. Events like this are really designed to help with that – to benefit the children and the school. It helps us maintain this great community resource so it’s there for the future.”
It’s a formula that seems to be working as the preschool has more than doubled in size over the past year.
This year’s silent auction has set a fund raising goal of $10,000 to support the preschool’s operation.
“The money will be used for all aspects of the preschool, from rent and utilities to the fun stuff like toys, outdoor equipment and craft supplies,” said fundraising chair, Lisette Hay.
The event features the jazz stylings of the Eryn Shape Trio, free appetizers, wine raffles, and door prizes. A cash bar will also be available for folks as they consider their bids on a host of auction items.
“We have a great selection of featured auction items this year, and we’re confident they’re going to capture the interest of those who come out to this event,” said Hay.
Items on auction include a commissioned portrait painting of a person/pet from local artist Paul McNamara, Rifflandia tickets, vacation stays, and a custom sized Stohlquist drysuit for paddling, kayaking, or open water boating.
Another element of the event is the opportunity for members of the community to contribute to a newly conceived Donor Wall.Well known Victoria wall muralist Mario Labonte donated one of his BC-inspired landscape wall murals to cover the front entrance of the preschool.
“All families of the preschool, past and present, will have an opportunity to have their family’s name painted at the bottom of our donor wall. Alternatively, they can choose to have their child’s handprint captured to top a flower on the wall mural itself,” said Hay. “Anyone wishing to have their family name on the wall or have their child’s handprint as part of this creation can either come to the silent auction or contact us at obpop.fundraisingcochair@gmail.com.”
The auction is May 6 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Cadboro Bay United Church, 2625 Arbutus Rd.
Visit oakbaypreschool.com for more information.
“We’ll have the link to the online auction up on the preschool website soon,” said Hay. “It will give people a chance to bid on our featured live auction items even if they can’t attend the silent auction. If their bid is high enough, they could still win by participating in the online auction.”