April 1, 2008

Willow Glen Elementary fundraiser nets $30,000-plus

By Carol Rosen
Editor

A bidding war broke out in Willow Glen’s Vin Santo Ristorante on March 16 as the Willow Glen Elementary School’s PTA entertained a sell-out crowd for its seventh annual “Night in Northern Italy.”

A group of teachers gather for a photo, from the left including Radel Swank, who teaches fourth grade, Amy Bush, first grade and Lynda Jensen, Deborah Robertson and Teresa Ochoa, kindergarten.

The first item up for bid, a women’s bicycle donated by Willow Glen Bikes with a basket filled with aromatherapy products and worth nearly $300, quickly surpassed that amount as two women vied to own it. The bidding, which started at $100, continued to go back and forth until one of them offered $700.

The fundraiser took in more than $30,000, up from last year’s record by several thousand and substantially up from the $20,000 netted two years ago. The unique event offered patrons several ways to spend their money; balloons with goodies in them cost $20 each, a teacher raffle and the live and silent auctions.

Proceeds from the event will benefit educational enrichment programs on the historic campus. These include field trips, music, art, sports and science as well as family activities and teacher stipends for supplies and materials.

Local luminaries such as District 6 Councilmemeber Pierluigi Oliverio, San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias, and Board of Education President Pam Foley mingled with guests, including a number of teachers that plainly were enjoying the wine tasting and the food.

A group of teachers gather for a photo, from the left including Radel Swank, who teaches fourth grade, Amy Bush, first grade and Lynda Jensen, Deborah Robertson and Teresa Ochoa, kindergarten.

“Creative, unusual auction items were a hit with attendees,” said auction chair Liz Newman. “A woman’s cruiser bicycle donated by Willow Glen Bicycles with a basketful of cosmetics went for $700, the opportunity to be principal for a day—assisted by the school’s Principal Dayle D’Anna—went for $800, a Los Gatos getaway including a night at the Hotel Los Gatos went for $1,000 and a San Jose Giants tickets ‘n tailgate package sold for $1,200.”

Also in attendance was architect Bill Gould, designer of Willow Glen Elementary’s striking new building at the century-old school. Gould donated a prototype of a large public art piece featuring California poppies planned for the school's gateway for the silent auction.

Other unique and popular items included a special Mother’s Day brunch for almost two-dozen moms, a soccer clinic with the Stanford women’s soccer coach, who just happens to be a Willow Glen Elementary dad, and an autographed set of Lemony Snicket books.

Attendees could also bid on carefully selected student art that was framed and displayed in a tent at the rear the restaurant. The artworks, students’ versions of the famous artists the classes studied through a volunteer art docent program, brought in more than $1,200 from proud parents and art aficionados.

San Jose Unified School District celebrities were at the fundraiser including board of Trustees President Pam Foley and Superintendent Don Iglesias.

Parents could also show appreciation by purchasing a $5 raffle ticket in a favorite teacher’s name in a drawing for a weekend stay at a nearby beach house. Kindergarten teacher Teresa Ochoa won the great escape. More than $1,700 was raised in the teacher raffle alone, which kicked off prior to the event.

Vin Santo owners Umberto and Sharlene Pala and Renee Lewis graciously opened the doors on a Sunday to accommodate the event, closing the restaurant for the entire day. The open house featured wine tasting and the fabulous appetizers that are Vin Santo’s signature. Umberto Pala joked that it was part of the sales agreement when they bought the restaurant from Greg and Susan Russi last year that they would provide the setting for the local elementary school’s fundraiser.

“We want to be absolutely involved in the community and its activities,” Pala told the Times.

“Against the backdrop of state budget cuts, it's reassuring to have parents, merchants and community members step up to the plate so generously for the sake of educating neighborhood children,” said Leslie Chamberlain, Willow Glen Elementary PTA president. “Every little bit helps. Money raised will support our art, science, and music programs—enabling us to accelerate the academic momentum at Willow Glen Elementary.”

A California Distinguished School, Willow Glen Elementary has been at the heart of the Willow Glen community for more than a century.