Annual Gala Donations Overview

Park West holds an annual Gala & Auction to raise funds as tuition alone does not cover all operating costs. The gala also provides an opportunity for families to socialize with other families. Our goal this year is to raise $80,000.

GALA AND AUCTION – FEBRUARY 7, 2026

As members of the cooperative, each family is obligated to purchase one (1) ticket per parent to the gala and contribute one (1) of the following Gala donation options by Friday, December 12.

1. One Auction Item AND One Fund-Our-Future Donation

2. One Luxury Auction Item (Valued at or greater than $500)

3. One Fund-Our-Future Donation (Valued at or greater than $500)

*Donations to Fund-Our-Future are used for special projects, maintaining healthy reserves, investing in teacher training, and strategic initiatives to help Park West evolve and grow over time. Like every family that came before you, your donations to school support not only your own child, but those who will come here after you. Fund-Our-Future contributions are 100% tax deductible. 

Please note: Tots families are not required to purchase Gala tickets or donate items but we would love your participation if you’re so inclined.

IMPORTANT DATES 

December 12                  Auction items due to office 

February 7                    Annual gala event

Securing auction items

When are auction items due?

Auction items are due December 12. Depending on the item, you may drop it off at Park West or email it to galachair@parkwestcoop.org.

Who can I approach for help?

An Auction Captain will be assigned​ to each classroom. The Auction Captain will be contacting you soon to outline auction requests specific to your class. The captains will also be available to answer questions, track donations, and usher your donations to the office.

How should I solicit auction items?

We encourage you to ask around and use your connections in seeking auction items.

As you start soliciting auction items, feel free to use one of our email/letter examples attached below:

• Generic letter (you don’t have a specific contact or know the person well)

• Generic pitch note, tailored to meet Dyson’s requirements for contribution (example if you need to “prove” why a donation would align with the company’s goals)

• Personalized email (if you know the person well or have given the company significant business)

How much should the auction item be worth?

Values can vary. We encourage auction item values to range from $100 to $6,000+. If your family is able to donate a higher value, luxury item, please contact galachair@parkwestcoop.org.

What types of auction items are we looking for?

Ask for items you yourself would be interested in purchasing at an auction. Think of items to donate that would be difficult for someone to go out and purchase on their own. Leverage personal connections. We challenge you to be creative, and new ideas are always encouraged. To assist in your donation consideration, here is a list of items that have performed the best in previous galas. 

• Holiday packages at hotels/resorts/golf courses

• Tickets to sports events/signed merchandise

• Packages to children’s enrichment activities

• Airline tickets

Here is a link to the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Family Resource Guide, for ideas of businesses located in and around the Lincoln Park neighborhood.