FAQs for Celebrate Giddens

What is the Celebrate Giddens event?
Formally known as the Celebrate Giddens Gala, Celebrate Giddens is our annual Preschool-5 community celebration and fundraiser for financial aid, teacher and faculty continued education and program expansion. Every year, families, faculty, staff, alumni, come together in support of Giddens school.

Can my children attend?
While we love seeing Giddens students engage with the greater community, this is an adults-only event.

I am new to Giddens School, and I haven't met many parents/caregivers from other grades yet. Should I still attend?
Absolutely! Celebrate Giddens event gives you the chance to meet more members of our incredible school community. You can also meet other parents/caregivers at grade-level socials, community coffees, or other events hosted by the Giddens Community Association (GCA) and the school.

When and Where is the Event?
Celebrate Giddens will be held on the evening of Saturday, May 3rd from 5 – 9 p.m. at Giddens School, 2120 21st Ave S, Seattle WA 98144.

Ticket Details
Ticket pricing is as follows:
    • Regular Tickets (available until sold out or April 11): $115
    • Faculty/Staff: $0 and Guest of Faculty/Staff: $57.50
Ticket price includes entrance to the event, heavy appetizers,beer and wine and non-alcoholic beverages.  Please use discount code Giddens50 for financial aid families.

Where should I park?
There is various street parking surrounding Giddens School. We encourage carpool or grab an Uber for a stress-free night! Please do not leave any valuables in your car.

What is this year’s theme?

What is this year’s theme? 

This year's theme is Go Team Giddens! All Star Celebration—a sports-inspired event that’s all about having fun and celebrating our community’s team spirit! It's all about celebrating teamwork, community, and having a blast together.

What should I wear?
Whether you're coming to cheer on the cause or just enjoy a good time, you’re encouraged to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Show your support by rocking your favorite team's gear, sporting your high school jacket, or wearing your Giddens gear.

I'm unable to attend in person, can I still participate in the auction?
Absolutely! There will be lots of amazing packages available in the online catalog from April 28 - May 4th, with the auction closing at Noon on Sunday, May 4th. Get ready to bid on favorites like class baskets, teacher and staff experiences and Giddens exclusive items, plus incredible get-a-aways, sporting events, family-friendly memberships and more!

You can also contribute to financial aid by donating online. Be sure to check for employer matching. Every dollar counts toward our fundraising goal.

Will there be class baskets this year?
Yes! there will be class baskets in the silent auction. Each teacher has selected their own theme. Your class rep should be sharing information about your class basket. Also, this year the event will be held at Giddens school.

What's new in 2025?

Table Sponsorship

Becoming a Table Sponsor at the Go Team Giddens! All Star Celebration is a fantastic way to show your support for Giddens School while enjoying the event with your friends, family, or colleagues. For a $900 sponsorship, you get a reserved table for 8—that's just $112.5 per ticket—and the opportunity to showcase your commitment to our school and community.

As a table sponsor, you'll enjoy:

• A reserved table for you and your guests at the celebration.
• Prominent recognition as a Table Sponsor during the event.
• The chance to bring 8 guests to join in the fun and support Giddens together!

This is a great way to engage your network, show off your school spirit, and support critical programs at Giddens. Plus, your participation directly contributes to our fundraising goal of $125,000, helping us provide financial assistance, develop our teachers and staff, and fund innovative programs for our students.

What does fundraising support at Giddens?
At Giddens, we believe in fostering a nurturing and enriched learning environment for every student. While tuition covers a significant portion of the cost, it doesn't tell the whole story.

Bridging the Gap with Your Help
That's where our two annual fundraisers come in:

• Annual Fund: Held in the fall, this fundraiser supports critical areas like financial aid.
• Celebrate Giddens: Our spring fundraiser raises funds for teacher and staff development, as well as program expansion.

At Giddens School, tuition alone doesn’t cover all of the costs associated with providing the high-quality education and experiences our students deserve. That’s where fundraising comes in! The funds raised through events like this directly support critical areas of our school, including:

• Financial Assistance: Ensuring that every student has the opportunity to benefit from a Giddens education, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
• Teacher & Staff Development: Providing ongoing training and professional growth opportunities to help our dedicated educators continue to excel and inspire.
• Exciting Programs & Initiatives: Supporting innovative learning programs, extracurricular activities, and other enriching opportunities that make Giddens a unique and thriving place for our students.

This year, our Celebrate Giddens Goal is $125,000—and every dollar you contribute helps us get one step closer to achieving that goal. Your support is essential in helping us maintain the excellence that makes Giddens School such a special place for students, families, and educators alike.

What is the event format?
Celebrate Giddens 2025 - Go Team Giddens! This event will feature a reception with beer and wine, heavy appetizers, and a silent auction. There will be a live auction, Raise the Paddle, followed by the dessert dash. 

How can I support Giddens School on the night of the event?
• Bid on class baskets and items in the silent auction
• Bid on items in the live auction during the dinner program
• Donate during Raise the Paddle during the dinner program

What is the registration deadline?
The deadline to register is Friday, April 4. There is limited space at Giddens school for 200 attendees, so it’s best not to wait to purchase your ticket. After April 4th registration will be closed.

Is there assigned seating?
Seating is open, so you're welcome to pick any available seat. Enjoy the company of friends or make new ones! If you are a sponsor, you will have VIP seating.

SILENT ONLINE AUCTION & CATALOG

What type of items can I donate?
We love a creative and fun idea to bring people together. Do you love to host dinners? Teach dancing? We'd love to hear about it. Some items on the auction wish list are destination vacations, weekend getaways, private dinners and wine tastings, sports and entertainment tickets and family-friendly memberships.

I don’t have a vacation home or stadium suites; can I donate a smaller item?
There is a place for everyone at the auction and we appreciate donations at all price-points! Smaller items can be combined to create amazing packages. Joining with friends to host a group experience is another fun way to participate. Click HERE for more ideas then fill out the donation form HERE.

Rather give financial support? Every amount counts toward our fundraising goal. There are donation options on our donations page.

We also understand not everyone can give financially; volunteering is a significant way to meaningfully contribute to the success of the event and to support the school. If you would like to volunteer please sign-up HERE or contact the us at gala@giddensschool.org.

Can I volunteer to help the auction team?
YES! There are many pieces to make the auction successful. Opportunities for volunteering range from day-of setup, procurement, and more. Visit the volunteer page to learn more.

Will There Be A Dessert Dash?
Yes! This is such a fun part of the night! If you love to bake or have a favorite bakery to support please sign up to donate a delish sweet to share for a table of 8. Sign-Up HERE or contact us at gala@giddensschool.org.

How do I collect my winning items?
Auction items will be displayed at the Celebrate Giddens Gala and must be taken home from the event by the winning bidders. Those that bid online and are not able to attend the event, auction items will need to be picked up the week of May 5 - 9 at Giddens school. Whenever possible, gift certificates will be transferred electronically.

ONLINE AUCTION TIPS

What is the online auction website?
The online auction site can be found HERE.

What is online bidding?
Online bidding is our virtual auction where you can bid on items from any location using a device including a smartphone, tablet or computer. Premium silent items, class baskets and teacher and staff experiences will be available through online bidding when the online auction opens on April 28th.

Do I need to register for online bidding?
Yes! Everyone (attending in-person or still wanting to participate online) needs to register for online bidding.

What if I plan to attend the event in person do I still need to sign up for online bidding?
Yes, and we recommend signing up now for online bidding both for optimized check in at the event and so you can participate in bidding when the online auction opens on Monday, April 28th. Click HERE to register for online bidding.

How do I register for online bidding?
You can register for online bidding by clicking HERE Next, click the “Get Started” button and it will take you to “Create Account” for online bidding.

Online bidding for Celebrate Giddens allows everyone to participate in the silent auction and support Giddens. This means you can do your bidding anytime while the online auction is open.

You only need to register for online bidding once. If you have already registered, and you try to register again with the same email address, you will get an ‘error’ message.

If you are a return bidder, use your login information. There is a link on the Get Started page to reset your password if you forget your login, user name or password.

Are there any exceptions? Will everything included in the silent auction be sold in the online auction?
Live auction Items are a separate category from silent auction and these items will be available for preview online only and will be sold in person at the event on May 3rd. All sales are final.

Additional questions?
For questions regarding the event, sponsorships and donations, email Gala@Giddensschool.org.

THE FINE PRINT
Refunds: All sales are final. Ticket and purchases are non-refundable. Please note specifications and restrictions such as expirations dates or quantity limits carefully before bidding.

Auction Rules and Terms:
• Payment by the successful bidder must be paid in full and will be charged by credit card within three days of event.
• Pickup of items is the responsibility of the purchaser and will be arranged with the school after the event.
• All sales are final and no exchanges or refunds on items are allowed.

*Please note: Although Giddens School has attempted to describe all items correctly, all items are sold as-is. Giddens School neither warrants nor represents and in no event shall be responsible for the correctness of descriptions, genuineness, authorship, provenance or condition of the items. No statement contained in the online bidding site or elsewhere shall be deemed a warranty, representation, or assumption of liability.