NEF Lighthouse Auction

October 24, 2012
For Immediate Release
Contact: Marcia Samuelson, msamuelson@newburyporef.org

Annual NEF Lighthouse Auction Kicks off Online 10/26 to Benefit Newburyport Public Schools

Newburyport – The Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) announced the 5^th Annual Lighthouse Auction will kick off on October 26 with an online auction. Registration for online bidding is at www.newburyportef.org/auction.

“We hope our supporters will share the online opportunity with their friends and family as this is a very convenient way buy gifts and support the Newburyport Public Schools at the same time,” said John Elwell, NEF President. “Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family out of town can do holiday shopping online and directly benefit their child’s school.”

The Lighthouse Auction is the NEF’s largest fundraiser of the year. Over the past four years, the auction has raised $180,000 for the Newburyport Public Schools. Since 2004, the NEF has donated more than $2 million to the schools.

“Our goal continues to be to raise funds to enhance education because there is so much more to do across the district,” said Elwell. “Our current focus is to give teachers the technology tools they are asking for to utilize the wifi we installed at the middle and high schools last year. We are also continuing our ongoing effort toward enhancing literacy in grades K-12.”

Organizers hope that this year will again be a success with even more valuable and unique items to win.

 “We are so fortunate to have a generous pool of donors to this year’s auction.  The community has been incredibly generous in support of this event,” said Rosemary Turgeon, the NEF volunteer coordinating the donations.  “Some exciting new items to be auctioned off this year include a Rooftop Party atop the Tannery to the tunes of Danny Harrington’s saxophone, a helicopter ride, a hands-on party at Eat Cake, a Tom Brady autographed NFL Jersey, and vacation homes from Vermont to the Bahamas!”

“In addition, we have a lot of “experiences” that involve teachers and staff — to name a few: Surfing Lessons with Mr. Reynolds, a 7th grade science teacher, ice-cream with each of the Brown School teachers, a night on the town with Dr. Kerble and his wife, and Principal for A Day at the Bresnahan School,” said Turgeon. 

The live and silent auction will be held Saturday, November 10 at 5:30 at the Masonic Hall, 31 Green Street, Newburyport. Rob Ouellette, well-known local education supporter and businessman, will be the master of ceremonies for the evening. Admission price includes complimentary hors' doeuvres and a cash bar (with all profits benefiting the NEF). Tickets are $20 in advance ($30 purchased at the door) and can be purchased at www.newburyportef.org/auction. Raffle tickets for chances to win a grand prize of choice of a Kindle Fire, IPad2 or Iphone 5 are also on sale now. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and can be purchase online at www.newburyportef.org/auction. Winners will be drawn at 8 pm on November 10 and need not be present to win.

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About the Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF) The Mission of the Newburyport Education Foundation is to bring philanthropy into the Newburyport Public Schools and generate financial resources that will enhance the quality of public education throughout the school system. Formed to enhance educational opportunities for the city’s public school children, the goal of the Newburyport Education Foundation is to supplement funding for programs which are already supported by public financing at a basic level, but which can be substantially improved by additional private sector financing, and to finance programs that might not receive funding from traditional sources such as the district budget or state aid.