Gatito’s school has a very wealthy base. Normally, they do these fundraising auctions where people donate things like a week at their house on the French Riviera and the like. This year, in deference to the economy, they decided not to hold the auction. In its place, they had each class decorate a cookie jar, and there was a silent auction.
I assumed that, given the extreme wealth of many of the families at that school, and given how much everyone loves the school and knows about its financial difficulties, that some kajillionnaire would step up and buy the cookie jars for $1,000.
You can see where this is going, can’t you?
A dropped Gatito off at school one day last week and placed a bid and, well, let’s just say that we are now the proud owners of a $350 cookie jar. I am glad that we are supporting a school that did such amazing things for my kid, but lordy. Please at least tell me that is tax-deductible!
Normally our preschool holds a fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton, which was so far from anything I could imagine we had never attended. This year they just sold raffle tickets, which I liked much more and bought a book in support (and asked them if we won, to give the prize to someone who needed it). Thus we ended up with a $200 signed CD from some mysterious band. I guess no one really needs a CD.
Next year our son will be attending a Title I public school–okay, admittedly, the magnet Japanese language enrichment program located at a Title I public school–and I already feel a lot better about donating. Yesterday we went to kindergarten orientation and he had a blast playing with his new classmates. I have learned it is evidently sort of un-American to like poor, urban public schools named after civil rights heroes that are filled with English language learners after hearing several times how “gutsy” I am for sending our son to a school “in the PROJECTS!” But I do, I love our new school.
(Although at the risk of damaging my newfound street cred, anyone who actually visited would realize our school is not in fact located “in the PROJECTS!” It is next to a convalescent home, a YMCA, and a condo building that really needs a new coat of paint.)