June 2, 2006

Fifth annual Books On Par event another success

James F. Smith Elementary School’s 5th Annual Books On Par event was held on May 15, and was another sold-out success, raising $68,000 for the JFS PTA.

The winning foursome at golf—Greg Olsen, Tony Vivona, Gene Norcia, and Bill Frandsen. Photo courtesy of Carol Butler

Over 230 people attended the dinner auction at the beautiful Silver Creek Valley Country Club, and 78 golfers enjoyed the warm, sunny day participating in the golf tournament.

What started out as an idea kicked around by a few parents over a glass of wine to raise money for a sparse new school library has raised over $300,000 in five years.

This year’s event planning started last September and continued throughout the year, with over 60 volunteers working together to collect donated goods and services, secure golf hole sponsorships, sell tickets, coordinate student creation of the in-classroom art pieces for the live auction, and more. The money raised at the event will be used for technological and media resources, artistic programs, science closet materials, classroom mini grants, and other enrichment programs.

Not only did the JFS PTA coffers benefit, but the students’ art enrichment did as well. Parent volunteers, some of them professional artists who work for companies such as Electronic Arts, sat shoulder-to-shoulder with the students in the classroom, helping them to create their pieces for the live auction. "The Glow II," a painting of trees inspired by artist G. Williams, went for $3,600 to highest bidder, Marc Albin. Also popular were Principal for a Day ($2,500) and a full set of braces ($4,600), donated by Evergreen’s own Dr. David Tillmanns.

To view event photographs and for purchasing information, please visit: http://www.printroom.com/pro/carolbutler.

Event Highlights:

2006 BOP Sponsors Donating $1000 Each:

(5 consecutive year sponsors are in bold): Albin Engineering Services, Inc., American Express, Bank of America, Coldwell Banker – Joe Piazza, Delta Alarm Security Systems, Inc., Evergreen Veterinary Clinic, IBM, Land Mosaics, Inc., The Langlois Family, Dr. John Lien, M.D., McDonald’s Restaurants, Solectron, South Bay Imaging, Swan Pools, Dr. David Tillmanns, DDS MSD, Nicole Trieu – Century 21 Alpha, Washington Mutual Home Loans, and JMH Weiss, Inc.

Golf Tournament:

Winning Foursome (third year in a row): Bill Frandsen, Gene Norcia, Greg Olsen and Tony Vivona (They have played in the tournament all five years).

Closest to the Pin: Rick Valdez

Men's Longest Drive: Aaron Bennett

Golfer Lunches compliments of Aldo Montufar of MegaByte Pizza at Silver Creek Canyon Shopping Center; sodas and waters compliments of Williams Liquors.

Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction

Sit down dinner served to approximately 230 guests.

Wine donated by Al Olseen, State Farm Agency owner in Evergreen, Donovan Pham of Country Wide Home Loans and Nicole Trieu of Century 21 Alpha.

Silent auction - 82 items

Sports memorabilia - 13 items

Live Auction

Auctioneer: Pete DeVries - has donated his services all five years

Live auction - 27 items

Live auction raised: $41,175

Highest bidder: $3,600 by Marc Albin for "The Glow II" painting of trees inspired by artist G. Williams. (4th grade Ms. Huang's class)

Second highest bidder: $3,500 by Mark Denny and Kathy Casquihna, an outdoor life-size chess set (1st grade Mr. Nichols and Ms. Acosta's Kindergarten class)

Principal for the Day: $2,500 by Amr El-Ashmawi and Raania Mohsen for their child to follow in the footsteps of our principal, Keith Hodgin.

Full Set of Braces: donated by Dr. David Tillmanns of Evergreen and raised $4,600 (valued at $5,000)