Every year your parent-led booster club, MVSEG brings Mar Vista three special events to look forward to — Bids For Kids! Each event will have amazing fundraising opportunities for you and your family to take part in. Here’s the full rundown.

Event #1: Bid Week, March 3-7

Bid Week pulls together Art & Baskets donated and created by parent classroom coordinators, teachers and kids. You can bid on your classroom Art and Baskets, or bid on another class’s item that you really love! There’s also Staff Outings that offer kids a chance to have a unique experience with one of their favorite staff members or teachers — experiences like Principal for the Day or Group Outing to Color Me Mine! Outings may have some restrictions - such as only bidding on your child’s teacher for Teacher For The Day! Check out the package details while bidding right here at mvegala.com or stop by the Auditorium during Bid Week.

The best part of Bid Week: Blind Bidding! You will be bidding against others, without knowing what the highest, latest, or how many bids have been submitted for the package! So - bid generously if it’s an item you really want to make sure you get a chance to win! Bids are submitted with the virtual Bid Form, one submission per item - but always feel free to outbid yourself!

Don’t forget to get a last look at the items at Bid Week Wrap Up, Saturday March 7 between 9-11am in the Auditorium - all kids that stop by get a complimentary ice cream cone voucher from Handel’s Santa Monica!

Event #2: Online Auction, March 17-22

Thanks to effort of the Committee, MVE families and local businesses, the Online Auction is a huge collection packages up for bid from local and loved businesses! You can win a trip to Maui, score some game tickets, try a new Summer camp or take home some new beauty products.

The Online Auction will close on Gala Day, March 22 at 8pm with Featured Items closing at 9pm. Bid early so you can enjoy Gala night! The Online Auction is all virtual, Gala attendance is not required.

Event #3: Gala Night, March 22

The Gala is a special parents-only celebration evening, supporting Mar Vista Elementary. We will be returning to the local Museum of Flying at the Santa Monica Airport with an night packed with great food, lots of friends, an open bar, special programs, live auctions, photobooth, guest photography, a raffle and wine pull event and the very important Raise the Paddle! Unsure about Raise the Paddle? Read below!

Guest Host, Kirk Hawkins from KTLA Channel 5 News

Reserve your Glam ahead of time with Glamsquad - using our exclusive $30 code: MARVGLAM at checkout (valid 2/4-3/23, one-time use).

At 10:30 the Museum will close to our guests, but you don’t have to go home! Join us next door at The Cloverfield for late-night drinks and bites with friends. The Cloverfield graciously stays open for our MVE parents to continue the wonderful evening together.

BUY TICKETS

Arrival & Cocktails

Doors open at 5pm for check-in and Cocktail Hour. Arrive early to have your Gala-ready photo taken with FishyFoto, enjoy appetizers, grab a cocktail and mingle with friends.

Dinner Reception

Take your seat and enjoy a delicious buffet-style dinner before the Program begins! Seating is assigned by the Committee, you can request to be seated with specific families for groups that have purchased a “Table Reservation” with ticket purchase (A “Table Reservation” purchase per group of 10 guests). All guest seating will be grouped by grades to the best of the Committee’s ability.

Raffle & Wine Pull

Let the fundraising continue! Six wonderful baskets full of goodies including wine, chocolates, home goods and other surprises will be available to take home that evening. Purchase Raffle Tickets before the event, or with the Committee at the Gala! Raffle Basket Retail Value: $150+

For the first year, you can literally grab a bottle of wine! Purchase a Wine Pull Ticket allowing you to choose a bottle at random for $25. Guaranteed wine value minimum: $25, up to $100! Thank you to the parents of MVE that have donated from their private collections and wine clubs allowing us a chance to explore great wines - all for a great cause!

Program

Guest Emcee, Kirk Hawkins of KTLA Channel 5 News, will guide us through our dinner program, special recognitions, and fundraising.

Enjoy a look at the Enrichment Programs MVSEG provides through our fundraising efforts all year round - especially the Bids For Kids Event! Mrs. Choe will share her thoughts and outlook on Mar Vista - and usually a little humor with it.

A few special Live Auction Packages will be available - more details to come!

Raise The Paddle

Never experienced a Raise The Paddle Fundraiser before? Here’s the important details and what you can look forward to!

Each year Mrs. Choe will make an “ask” of the Gala guests to help secure a specific need for Mar Vista in the coming year. It is our goal as a community to gather together, reach deep and help to secure the target fundraising needed for Mrs. Choe’s “ask.” Guests receive a paddle at their seat with a specific number on it assigned to you. At the start of the Raise The Paddle, our emcee will open with the highest asks of the group - if you are willing and able to pledge to that donation level — RAISE YOUR PADDLE high and our Committee will record your pledge.

There is a pledge level for everyone - but bid where you can, where you are comfortable, as many levels as you’d like and with the full confidence you are expanding the opportunities your child will have next year with every dollar donated!

Still confused? You aren’t alone! Here’s a quick YouTube of another Raise The Paddle Event.