By: Suzy Dorr from NaplesNews.com
6:00 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009
Things moved at a feverish pace on March 28 as 300 parents, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and friends descended on the Naples Grande Resort for the Seacrest Country Day School’s 21st annual auction extravaganza.
“Every year’s like a homecoming with alumni coming back,” exulted David Amico, board of trustees honorary member.
Initially startled when the green arbor at the foot of the hotel’s escalator began enfolding them, guests rose to a display of colorful student art work and an organized sea of silent auction displays — 400 items plus an additional 20 live auction dream packages also listed in the nearly 200-page catalog. Trays of frosty Mojitos were at the ready as were passed hors d’oeuvres and a couple of open bars.
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Soon, two mute trailing vines, a roving orchid and a butterfly hovered about the ballroom foyer. Every item received bids except the Continental GTC Speed Bentley, an obvious indicator of the troubled economy.
Chiming in as they approached the ballroom, the entourage was awed by the “growing” themed décor executed by Rufino Hernandez and his Garden District team. Shimmering lighting illuminated soaring bouquets of roses and hydrangeas in the centers of round tables. Fresh green leaves served as placemats atop silken cloths. At each setting small handpainted flower pots “planted” with packets of wildflower seeds for butterfly gardens supported hand-drawn thank-you notes from individual students.
The opening act was the Seacrest High School Chorus, which serenaded the assemblage with two wildly applauded numbers. With barely a breather, the Fifth Avenue Band struck up and Head of School Lynne Powell took up the microphone, welcomed all and then deferred to auctioneer Ron Kirby of Stokes Auction Group. Kirby drummed up $10,000 in a final bid for Dream Package One — seats at the center table, a Seacrest tradition where winners dine with special grandeur and service.
A cash call rustled up an incredible $400,000 for the school. The remaining 18 packages, with several valued at $20,000, included the most-sought: “China — A Grand Adventure on an Intimate Scale.” Hosted by longtime China travelers David and Lori Collar, the journey will provide, through the couple’s connections, exclusive entrées for a party of two or a family of four. The winning bid was $45,000, to the delight of Kristy Rea, live auction chair.
Diners actually managed to enjoy their meals, chatting and flashing bid numbers amid the din of clackers provided for all, spotters noisily signaling bids, the band playing on and the auctioneer continuing his professional patter. Planning and logistics chairwomen Elizabeth Ganzi and Jennifer Parisi were responsible for orchestrating the evening’s organized chaos.
“It’s a magical evening, matched by a magical school,” Ganzi said.
The minute the live auction ended, the partiers zipped in and out to continue silent auction bidding when they were not gyrating on the dance floor. Overseeing that action were Marti Flagg and Karen Yannone, silent auction co-chairwomen. Helen Ruisi, Seacrest chief financial officer, announced the evening had netted nearly $900,000, which included income from the $400-per-person tickets. Its income helps one-third of the student body with financial assistance to attend Sea crest.
Things moved at a feverish pace on March 28 as 300 parents, administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and friends descended on the Naples Grande Resort for the Seacrest Country Day School’s 21st annual auction extravaganza.