By Sophie Weinstein ’13, Contributor
This year at Country Date, the school’s annual fundraising event, the prizes and party planned are better than ever. Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Paula Brock said, “This year’s event will be bigger than most years with the addition of an after party that will feature a DJ and dancing.”
This year’s theme is “Rock the Date.” The event will be complete with “appetizers and a seated dinner with a terrific menu from La Petite Pierre and after party fun snacks catered by Sage Dining,” said Mrs. Brock.
The most exciting part of the event is the auction and all the vast number of items available. As always, there will be a Country Date dog. “This year our CCDS puppy is a miniature female dachshund,” explained Mrs. Brock. Also up for auction are, “once in a lifetime experiences,” Mrs. Brock said when she described all the big trips available. “We have a castle in Scotland, a chateau in France, condos in Beaver Creek, Colorado and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and many more trips.”
Mrs. Brock added that one of the most exciting big ticket items this year is a raffle offering the chance to win a new Honda Civic or $10,000 courtesy of parents Matt and Marianne Castrucci of Matt Castrucci’ s Auto Mall of Dayton.
For those unable to attend the event itself, Mrs. Brock encourages families to check out the online auction to “view and bid on items.” Tho auction opens 8 am on February 28 and closes March 9 at 9 pm at this link: http://benefitevents.com/auctions/ccd2011.
Each grade is creating a project to auction off at Country Date. Administrative Assistant Mrs. Andi Mapes explained that the freshmen will be providing a piece of graphic art and the sophomores a quilt made of CCDS t-shirts. The junior project is also an art piece that features “a single phrase from each student [that] will be hand-painted onto the art piece,” Mrs. Mapes said. The senior project is a great way to remember their class once they’ve graduated; Mrs. Mapes has helped them with the creation of “a coffee table book” that’s entitled “The Three Words Project.” Each student will have his or her picture in the book, along with three words that epitomize their time at CCDS.
Along with the class projects, Mrs. Brock is excited about the presence of special guest: Bengals player Dhani Jones. “Mr. Jones, along with an Upper School student, has designed a CCDS bow tie that will be for sale the night of the auction,” explained Mrs. Brock.
These great items are all being provided in hopes that parents will “support our school’s programs and faculty,” said Mrs. Brock. The event is a great way for Country Day families to give back to the school and, as Mrs. Mapes said, “raise loads of money to support Country Day.”
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Country Day School
