On May 19, Cold Spring School threw its biggest party of the year. We celebrated the school's 30th birthday, honored 25-year faculty veterans Penny Serafin and Karen Zwick, and staged a rousingly successful benefit Auction. It was a night to remember, complete with perfect weather and raucous auctioneering, at the Carousel at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.

Long before the big night the Auction Committee was meeting regularly. This year the committee had a challenging to-do list. It needed to plan not only the Auction but also a fitting tribute to the school and to Penny and Karen on reaching their important milestones. Phew!

Many of the committee members were Auction veterans--Gina D'Errico (chair), Cheryl Andresen, Stephanie Carbone, Aisling Colon, Paula Coyne, Heidi Downey--joined by newcomers Wendy Garcia and Shel Swanson. Relying on their collective ability for seeing the big picture while attending to the small stuff, the committee worked though a gazillion details and had fun in the process. In fact, talk has already begun about the next auction, in 2014!

Well in advance of the evening the committee secured the historic and elegant Carousel building at Lighthouse Point Park and decided that gourmet pizza and salad from the Old World Pizza Truck was just the right fare. To finish out the dinner, several of Cold Spring's best bakers made cupcakes (what's a birthday without cake?). Pete White brewed and served homemade beer, and Deborah Levine and Stuart Press donated the wine.

The next priority was identifying an auctioneer, or two, who could keep the evening lively but focused on raising money for the school. Soon trustee Mike Deakin and parent Mike Stratton were on board as co-auctioneers. Anyone who attended the auction knows the evening was very lively thanks to their teamwork. On top of that, a new fundraising record was set. Kudos to Mike and Mike!

In the end, $46,500 was netted. From this total, $16,000 was raised through Fund-a-Cause and will be used to help renovate the play yard in Penny's and Karen's honor. The remaining $30,500 will be used to support the Cold Spring School financial aid program, which benefits more than 30% of our students every year.

The evening was a wonderful affirmation of our school's community, which came together in celebration of the school, to honor Penny and Karen, and to raise funds for a cause close to our hearts. The event owes its success to the many volunteers who solicited and donated Auction items and worked tirelessly to make Auction 2012 memorable, enjoyable, and fruitful. Hats off to you!

View photos of the evening by clicking here.