Annual Auction & Gala

The Auction & Gala is our school's largest annual fundraising event. The money raised at the Auction helps offset the costs of educating each child at CES, and directly, the school's annual operating expenses.

Every year, the Auction & Gala has a new theme. This year's theme is "Off to the Races!" Wear your biggest hat and grab a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby in the USA, win big at the Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, and jump every obstacle at the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan! No matter where you call home, we want to see you at the finish line. So, saddle up and join us at this year’s Auction and Gala.

Each year the Auction Committee plans a great event, and we have held this event in any number of wonderful venues. This year, we are returning to Manor Country Club in Rockville!

The Gala is a super fun night! Whether you are a new CES parent, a long-time member of the CES family, or a member of the church, it is hands-down a great night with old and new friends... and for a good cause!

We gather in person for delicious food and beverages at this adult-only event. We bid on amazing silent auction items, treats donated by our teachers, and artwork made by our students; have fun with assorted games; and win prizes. We laugh throughout the Live Auction as we playfully battle it out with other parents and guests, all with the help of a real live auctioneer! We end our evening with dessert and dancing!

Please visit our dedicated gala site where you can RSVP for the event. There are multiple ticket and sponsorship options, so choose what is best for you. Note that our VIP tickets and sponsorships offer wonderful opportunities to enhance your experience (including fun treats) while also supporting the school. When you RSVP, you also have the opportunity to purchase a ticket for faculty or staff and/or a Best of Live Raffle ticket!

After dressing down during the pandemic, it’s time to get your party on! It’s cocktail attire for the gala, so have fun with it! Your dresses and ties will be perfect as we gather around the racetrack! Fascinators, jockey silks, and hats are definitely optional but of course, welcome!

Yes! It would not be an Auction & Gala without the teachers and staff! Get ready to bid on treats for your child to enjoy with their teacher and get ready for bidding wars with the teachers and staff- they tend to raise their paddles often!

This is an adult-only event (even parents need a night out sometimes!).

Yes, thanks to the generosity of our local businesses, our CES current and alumni families, and friends from Christ Episcopal Church. The school typically raises about $65,000 from the Auction, and more than $20,000 for special projects - like classroom remodels and renovations - during the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the event. In years past, money raised at the Gala has helped us acquire two school buses, technology upgrades, a full remodel of the Murdock Room, and many curriculum enhancements.

The answer to that is a resounding YES! We need volunteers to help with all aspects of the planning including item acquisition, sponsorship, advertising, packaging items together, and decorations. We also need help on Auction & Gala day setting up and cleaning up. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact our Director of Development, Cyndy Mamalian, at cmamalian@cesrockville.org. We look forward to working with you!

At the Gala, there is a Silent Auction and a Live Auction. The Silent Auction will open on March 12th and continue until right before the Live Auction. These items will be in the catalog and available for viewing online. You will be able to bid on items from your phone or other device.

The Live Auction portion of the evening has a live auctioneer and fast-paced bidding. This is a very fun part of the evening, and bidding wars can be epic! And be sure to stay tuned for the "Best of Live" raffle! Tickets will be limited and sold in advance, with the lucky winner choosing their favorite item in the Live Auction!

We have a great Acquisitions Committee that contacts businesses and potential donors. The success of the auction depends, in part, on the items we can acquire. Parents who are willing to help should talk with Cyndy Mamalian, Director of Development at cmamalian@cesrockville.org regarding details on the acquisition process.

There is something for everyone! There are gift certificates to restaurants all over Maryland and DC, spa services for people who like to be pampered, wine and other spirits, tickets to sporting events and other family outings, great hands-on learning opportunities, and amazing trips. You can even buy your child's teacher a day off, win being in the front row at all school performances, and maybe even have your child be the PE Teacher for a day!

Teacher Treats: These are fun experiences generously donated by CES teachers that teacher and student can do together, such as outings to the theater, a spa day, movie and ice cream, a bird watching excursion -- of all the auction items, these are a perennial favorite!

Student Art: Some of the items that sell for the highest prices are the artwork pieces created by each CES class. The works really are priceless!

The auction catalog will be sent home in the students' backpacks the week before the event, and will also be made available online for early bidding. In the catalog, you will find all of the silent and live auction items, the schedule of events for the evening, and great advertisements and messages from our sponsors and parents.

No, you are not required to buy anything at the event. However, all proceeds that are raised at the Auction benefit CES and the students. The auction team makes sure there are items up for auction at all different price points. Please contribute as your heart leads you. At the very least, be sure to come out for a fun night with the Christ Episcopal Community!

With our checkout system, you will be able to find out which items you won and pay for your items easily. Most items will be available for you to take home when you check out and leave that evening. In some cases, you may have to pick up your winnings at school during the week following the Auction & Gala during regular school business hours (8:00am-4:00pm).

“Raise the Paddle” is when, during the Live Auction, the auctioneer asks everyone to raise their auction paddle to donate at various monetary levels to a specific need the school has identified for that gala year. In recent years, our Raise the Paddle efforts have gone to remodeling classrooms, renovating the Murdock Room, and upgrading classroom technology. With everyone's generous contributions, Raise the Paddle typically raises about $20,000. Please include the "Raise the Paddle" opportunity in your budget for the Gala evening!

Yes, it's true. The money raised at the Auction & Gala helps bridge the gap between expenses covered by tuition and the cost of providing each student an exceptional CES education. Without the monies raised at the Gala, tuition for each student would be as much as $2,000 more.

Consider teaming together as a group or as an entire class for larger auction items or experiences! Consider buying your teacher a day off, trip packages or teacher treat outings. The possibilities are endless, especially when parents pool resources and work together!

The school will keep you updated on "all things Gala" in The Cardinal that comes out every Wednesday. In addition, we will send home flyers with reminders about the festivities and opportunities for you to be more involved.