Last month we officially launched this year's Galactic Gala: Auction to Fund Students at Swirl! Thank you to those of you who made it out and who purchased wine and spirits for our auction in the Spring - we appreciate your support!

If you haven't already, please be sure to mark your calendar - this year's Galactic Gala Auction will take place on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Marriott Wardman Park. The evening is sure to be out of this world and will feature a sit down dinner, silent and live auctions, and will be an all-around stellar event. An official invitation and information about tickets will be available when we return from Winter Break in January.

The Auction itself is truly a community endeavor and all proceeds raised from the Gala directly support Aidan's Financial Aid Program. Our Auction team has been hard at work these past few months reaching out to local businesses and organization in order to procure a number of fantastic donations, but we need your help!

In the coming weeks, you will receive information about how you can help support the Galactic Gala. There are a number ways of to get involved:

• Donate a good or service to the Auction - the sky's the limit when it comes to donations, but travel, home-stays, unique experiences, and gift cards to popular restaurants and shops tend to shine brightest when the bidding begins! Keep an eye out for our Auction Giving Guide and wish list for some great ideas!

• Become an A-Z Basketeer - the A-Z Baskets have a strong 14-year auction tradition at Aidan. Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by a specific theme. Select a letter and purchase up to $75 worth of items related to that specific theme. Purchased items will be assembled by Denise Merkel into an assortment of amazing baskets that will be available for bidding at the Galactic Gala. Additional information about the baskets may be found here. In addition, if you have any questions or would like to select your A to Z Basket letter, please contact Denise Merkel.

• Become a Sponsor or Purchase an Ad - promote your business, leave a special message for a loved one, and help underwrite the cost of the auction. It's a great way to promote your business to the Aidan community while helping to support the auction!

• Join the Auction Team - we are in need of volunteers to help with event preparation, donation management, sponsor and ad outreach, and business outreach. No prior experience necessary! If you are interested in joining the auction team, contact Nicole Goodman.

• Attend the Auction - don't miss the party of the year - join us for the Galactic Gala on March 16, 2019.

We hope you will support this year's Galactic Gala: Auction to Fund Students. If you have questions about the auction and how to get involved, contact auction@aidanschool.org!