Bids for Kids

The event is always a great time to socialize with friends and meet other Mercymount families. The success of the Auction is essential to the continuation of the quality of progressive and values-based education historically provided by Mercymount.

Through the efforts and generosity of our many donors, sponsors, advertisers and friends of the Mercymount community, our “Bids for Kids” Auction promises to be another memorable social and fund-raising event.

There are lots of ways you can join the fun:

• Come to the Auction. It’s our most festive fundraiser of the year.
• Make a donation. All donations large or small, individual or group are welcome and are sure to make the event successful.
• Solicit a donation. Have any friends who own a business or have a favorite business that you frequent? Ask them if they would like to donate.
• Solicit an ad from local businesses or consider a personal greeting to your child.
• Refer a corporate sponsor.

When is the deadline to drop off items for the Auction?

Please drop off item/basket by April 6, 2023. Items may be dropped off in the foyer at your convenience.

Why is the deadline to drop off items/baskets weeks in advance of the Auction night?

Our Auction catalogue, which describes each item that is available for bidding, is emailed the week before the actual Auction night. Therefore, each donation item must be fully described and ready for printing several weeks before the Auction night.

How is the money used that is earned from the Auction?

The Bids for Kids Auction is a major annual fundraising event for our school. Since Mercymount is a private, non-profit, Catholic elementary school, we do not receive funding from any congregation or government agency. Therefore, fundraisers such as our Auction comprise a major source of the operating budget. The money raised helps offset the annual costs of operating the school, provides resources for classrooms and the library as well as items needed by special teachers, facilities and faculty. It also provides financial aid to families. The success of our Auction is essential to the continued quality of education and moral upbringing provided by Mercymount, a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

How do I RSVP?

Invitations will be sent out approximately 6 weeks prior to the event, along with RSVP cards.

What do I wear?

Attendees typically wear attire that is suitable for an elegant restaurant.

Who do I contact with questions about the auction?

Please reach out to our auction committee chairs with any questions:

• Melissa Quinn
• Melissa Titov
• Jamie Sims

No long lines on Auction night? All it takes is a swipe of your credit card upon arrival … at the end of the evening, you pick up your items and go! Take advantage of this great Auction night payment method. When the evening is over, the items on your invoice will be charged to your pre-swiped card – no Checkout lines for you!

The following is information from GreaterGiving regarding the security and encryption of your credit card numbers…

How secure is the card reader and the process?

The credit card information is immediately encrypted and stored in the Greater Giving Event Software. This eliminates the chance to lose or misplace paper credit card receipts. The entire payment process using the card reader device is very secure, since Greater Giving complies with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard as a Level 1 vendor, the highest level for PCI compliance.

How is my donors’ credit card information protected?

When the credit card is run through the card reader device, the credit card number is stored in Event Software using high encryption, which means that the credit card number can no longer be accessed. Instead, the donor and credit card number are identified in Event Software with an ID number assigned by the software. The encrypted credit card information is sent when the charge is sent to the bank, but the credit card information remains hidden. That way, our clients are never put in a position where their system can be breached and donor credit card information stolen. Greater Giving follows PCI standards for every step in the process, so you never have to worry about securing your donors’ credit card information.

Please note that only CREDIT cards are eligible for this convenient payment option. Debit cards cannot be processed in the same way since there are spending limits on those cards imposed by the respective banks.

The Bids For Kids Auction Committee hopes you will find this an enjoyable experience. We have acquired an enticing array of auction items and hope you will have fun bidding on them in support of Mercymount Country Day School. All items are offered for bid in good faith, with pertinent restrictions noted, if any. Bidders are urged to read the Auction Catalogue and bid sheet descriptions carefully to avoid any confusion. Mercymount Country Day School and The Bids For Kids Auction Committee are grateful to the businesses and individuals who have contributed items in support of tonight’s event. We hope you will be encouraged to patronize these establishments when shopping for goods and services.

The rules governing The Bids for Kids Auction are as follows:

General Rules

1. All sales are final. No exchanges or refunds on auction items are permitted.
2. Items are sold “as is” and “where is”. Neither the Auctioneer nor the consignor make any warranty or guarantees expressed or implied, as to age, condition, origin, authenticity of or defect in and no statement, verbally or in writing made prior or during the sale, or in any advertisement or brochure related to the sale will be regarded as a guarantee or warranty or assumption of liability.
3. All auction items must be paid for in full (check, cash, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) on the evening of the auction. All checks are to be made payable to Mercymount Country Day School. The bidder agrees to pay the school a handling charge of $25.00 for any check not honored by the school’s bank. Checkout is available anytime after 9:30 PM
4. By purchase, the buyer waives any claim of liability against the school or the donor of the property or service and neither the school nor the donor is responsible for any personal injuries or damages to property that may result from the utilization of items or services sold.
5. Purchase certificates are given to the buyer when there is no item displayed.
6. All auction items and certificates must be removed from the premises the night of the event, unless otherwise stated.
7. Bid numbers may be obtained at the registration desk in the main entrance hall.
8. There will be NO SMOKING during the course of the auction. Thank you.

Silent Auction Bidding Procedures

1. This year, we will be using electronic bidding employing a secure website that the bidder can access from their own electronic device/smart phone.
2. In order to constitute a valid bid, each increase must equal or exceed the minimum increase stated on the bid sheet.
3. The Silent Auction will close at 8:30 PM
4. In the event of a dispute, the Auctioneer shall have sole and final discretion to determine the winning bid. No disputed item may be physically redeemed until the dispute is settled.

Live Auction Bidding Procedures

1. To enter a bid, bidder raises his or her bidder number, directing the signal to the Auctioneer. Bids should be made promptly. The Auctioneer will not let bidders bid against themselves. Only one of each auction item available.
2. If the Auctioneer determines that an opening bid is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, he may reject the bid and withdraw the article for sale.
3. The highest bidder acknowledged by the Auctioneer shall be the purchaser. In the event of any dispute between bidders, the Auctioneer shall have sole and final discretion to determine the successful bid.
4. At the fall of the Auctioneer’s gavel, the purchaser’s obligation for payment cannot be reversed.