BP Ed Foundation auctions set for March 28

For a fundraising event that doesn’t set goals, the Blooming Prairie Education Foundation’s annual auction smashes expectations, year after year.

Last year, proceeds hit $88,000. The foundation used that money to support classrooms in the district with more than $78,000 in funding allocations.

“Of course each year we’d like to exceed or match the previous year’s amount,” said Julie Noble, who was a member of the BPEF Board for 12 years, “but our goal is to raise funds to help us sustain our mission of providing extraordinary experiences for the students of our district, based on the needs and requests of the administration and teachers.

“Each year, the amount varies, what we can provide varies – and that is fine.”

This year’s event is set for March 28 at Blooming Prairie Cue Company/Pizza Cellar. The silent auction is 2 to 4 p.m.; the live auction is set for 5 to 11 p.m.

Each year, the BPEF invests about $17,000 specifically for field trips, averaging about $30 per student in kindergarten through sixth grade. That means every student has access to meaningful, real-world learning experiences outside the classroom.

The group’s budget is based solely on the proceeds from this event.

The money raised is a direct reflection on the items that are donated to the auctions, said Noble, who has served on the auction committee for more than 15 years, as both a board member and now as a community member.

“We have a terrific list of donors each year who return to us with some standard auction items like baked goods, get-away experiences, meal events” and more, she said.

The repeat donations “are the backbone of our silent and live auctions,” Noble said, “and the school projects always are a big hit.”

Among the student projects are a wooden charcuterie board crafted by Brody Lang and a basket of Blossom golf gear and handmade items from Sailor Lea.

Items on the block specifically geared toward students include “Co-Principal for a Day” at the BP Elementary School; Kid Manager Experience with the BPHS girls and boys basketball teams; a volleyball birthday party with the varsity team, a class party with boba drinks and cookies from BP Nutrition, and baskets full of creative and educational items for kids.

There are always handmade quilts and wood pieces and other art items, many with a nod to Blooming Prairie and its school district.

This year, there is a portable generator, a 3-D printer, a snowblower, a smokeless fire pit, sports memorabilia, Vikings tickets, a ton of sand or black dirt from Bishop Excavating, an indoor pizza oven and more.

Experiences include two hours of in-home decorating for Christmas; concert tickets to the Steele County Free Fair; in-home wine tasting; cookie and cupcake decorating classes; weekend concert passes to Lakefront Music festival; a reserved spot for the Old-Fashioned Fourth of July parade and much more.

Two big drawings will be held at 5 p.m., before the start of the live auction.

Kicking it off is the “First Pick of the Auction” ticket. Only 100 are sold; one ticket will be drawn, and the ticketholder may then choose any item from the live auction before it begins – with no competition.

The first pick tickets are $50 each.

The winners of the cash raffles will also be drawn at 5 p.m.; first prize wins $1,000; second is $500 and third is $250.

The group will sell 500 tickets at $10 each.

Other events held during the live auction – a heads and tails bead game, sweet and salty snack table – also raise money.

“We have a very supportive, caring community which is invested in our school and students – plus many other causes,” Noble said. “So many parents, community members and businesses give willingly to keep our Foundation active and financially able to do what we can to give our students the best education possible for a small town.

“No matter the amount raised,” she said, “we feel successful and appreciative to our supporters, and we strive to offer the best opportunities we can.”

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BP Ed Foundation Auction

What: 23^rd annual auction auctions

When: Saturday, March 28

Where: BP Cue Company/Pizza Cellar

Time: Silent auction is 2-4 p.m.; live auction is 5-11 p.m.

How to help:

In addition to covering costs for all students on every field trip, projects funded by the BP Education Foundation include: data collectors for updated science curriculum; middle school STEM day; elementary school STEAM day; musical equipment – including a grand piano for the auditorium; robotic and LEGO STEM kids; Prairie Fire Theater experience for elementary students; donation for Central Park renovation; author assemblies and more.

For more information, email bpedfoundation@gmail.com