Want to live like Oprah Winfrey for a night? Have a hankering for a taste of Tuscany’s best culinary offerings?
Well, unless you’re a personal friend of O’s or have a trip to Italy planned, the closest you’re probably going to come this month is by attending one of two neighborhood fundraisers held in support of local elementary schools Moss Haven and White Rock.
Both schools have come up with an impressive itinerary for their big nights. Moss Haven will raffle off a six-course dinner for eight whipped up at the winning ticket holder’s house by none other than Winfrey’s chef, Art Smith (he’s a friend of a Moss Haven parent).
And that’s not all.
“There will be hundreds of items to bid on in the silent auction…dining certificates, entertainment packages, items for the home, weekend getaways, teacher treasures and more,” says co-chair Michelle Frumin.
The live auction will include two exotic trips: a six-day stay at Costa Rica’s rustic Jungle House (www.junglehouse.com), and a four-day, three-night stay at local Realtor Missy Vanderbilt’s house in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
At White Rock Elementary, visitors will be treated to an “appetizer-sampler” Italian dinner catered by Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’s Phillip Luna. And the school will be holding an auction of its own, including a backyard playhouse built by the school’s Dads Club; a $2,000 orthodontic package donated by Dr. Greenberg; a luncheon and fashion show donated by The Store in Lake Highlands; a wine-tasting party; and the ever-popular Knights of Columbus pool membership.
While the two schools have very different financial goals in mind (White Rock hopes to raise $10,000, while Moss Haven hopes to raise a whopping $100,000), both are planning to use the money to fund some much-needed improvements.
White Rock will use the proceeds to complete its Outdoor Learning Center. They’re also hoping to start a Parent Resource Center, which will help Spanish-only speaking parents get questions answered and volunteer more at the school.
And while Moss Haven co-chairs Katharine Spears and Frumin admit the school’s financial goal is lofty, they note that it has been set that high for a very worthwhile reason: returning the school to Exemplary status.
With the money, the school intends to hire a full-time ESL aide, a part-time Spanish teacher and a full-time reading teacher, whom they hope will help improve TAKS test scores.
