Gala raises thousands for Sisters Elementary School

If you weren't at the Aspen Lakes Brand 33 Restaurant last Saturday night for the Sisters Elementary School Green and Gold Gala, you missed a lot of fun.

If you were there, you know what a grand night it was.

Anticipation for what was to come was high: "Oh, I'd love to have that wall-hanging in our living room..." "Look at that hand-painted cookie jar Mrs. Ritchie's kids did..." "Please, let's bid on Mrs. Stengel's first grade class Christmas tree skirt..." "OK, but I'm going after that Heads & Tails Kah-Nee-Ta package too..."

And that's the way the evening flew by.

Sisters Elementary School Principal Jan Silberman must have walked a hundred miles, taking each item around the bidding room.

"Keep bidding...!" was heard throughout evening as auctioneer Melvin Herberger urged the bidders on into good-natured competition with neighbor after neighbor, and parent after parent.

"I have $150 up front..." Mel shouted. "Do I hear $155... $150, do I $160?" The bidding frenzy for the first item, a hand-printed quilt Mrs. Kamrath's morning kindergarten class created, went on and on, until it was auctioned off for $450.

Besides creating the opportunity to enjoy a great deal of fun, and a wonderful excuse to get all dolled up and spend money that's hard to come by these days, the Green and Gold Gala gave the Sisters community the chance to help Sisters Elementary School continue to bring the excellent educational opportunities to our children.

"I feel so overwhelmed by the generosity of our community," Sisters Parent Teacher Community (SPTC) auction committee member Misty Nicklous said. "Especially considering these difficult economic times. It's just heart-warming to see everyone come together for our kids."

Nicklous reported this year's auction totaled about $15,000 gross.

A grand total of over $85,000 has been raised in the four years the event has been held.

A total of over 175 individuals and businesses contributed to the success of the Green and Gold Gala.

The following statement by the SES SPTC appeared on the first page of the Green and Gold Gala program; it sums up what the evening was all about: "It's so important we engage our children in the beginning of their education and cement their love of lifelong learning and their joy of discovering new skills. That's what this auction is all about; coming together to work for things that enhance and support the mission of our school and children."