Image Credit: Ryan Hyde, Flickr
It’s the event of the year, and everyone at school is talking about who’s going, who’s not, and where the best pre-parties and after parties are. No, it’s not prom, it’s the annual school fundraiser gala. Once an event for ritzy private academies, this annual dinner and auction is now commonplace for many public schools. They can be as casual as a crab feed or as formal as a black-tie ball. And for those of us who aren’t part of the ladies who lunch set, the idea of going to a formal function — at which we’re expected to not only shell out bucks for a pricey rubber chicken dinner, but then spend more money – is kind of terrifying.
At least that’s what I thought before I ever went to a school fundraiser. The first few years my kids were at elementary school, I avoided these functions like cult meetings. I didn’t want to spend an evening sipping Chardonnay with parents who all seemed to know each other and all seemed to have more disposable income than my family did. Then, the year my older son hit third grade, I decided to get over my fears and give it a try, and guess what? It wasn’t all that bad.
Click on over to Mom.me to read my 6 tips for your school fundraiser gala… and tell me if you have any more suggestions!