WHAT IS THE ROBERTS AUCTION AND GALA?

ROBERTS PTO'S Annual Auction and Gala is a night for parents, teachers, staff, alumni parents, grandparents, and friends to dress up, have fun, and raise money for Roberts Elementary to support our wonderful teachers, staff, and students. This year's event will be at the historic Cohen House at Rice University. There will be a buffet dinner; drinks; DJ; casino; games; dancing; silent auction for items, parties, school perks; Teacher of the Year awards; and a BIG ASK for donations.  This year, the BIG ASK is for a NEW LIBRARY FOR ROBERTS ELEMENTARY!  

GO STRAIGHT TO: TICKETS 

BUT WAIT, I JUST NEED A RED RE T-SHIRT FOR MY KID!  

AUCTION T-SHIRTS CAN BE PURCHASED IN THE TICKET PAGE.

WHY SHOULD I COME?

(1) Roberts is the lowest funded elementary school in HISD, and you want to contribute to the worthy cause of a new library at Roberts; 

(2) you want to get to know the teachers, staff, and RE parents in a fun and fancy setting; 

(3) you like to eat, drink, dance, people watch, play games, donate money, get dressed up, and/or have a grown-up night for a great cause; 

(4) you don't like to eat, drink, dance, people watch, play games, donate money, get dressed up, and/or have a grown-up night for a great cause, but your spouse or partner does.

WHAT ARE THE TICKET PRICES? 

Early Bird Ticket prices range from $125 for an individual general admission ticket to $5,000 for a VIP table of 10. Buy your tickets by December 31, 2023 to get the EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!  Early Bird Discount code is earlybird2024. Save $25-$500 on tickets--once you type in the discount code, scroll down to see the savings. Buy tickets here: TICKETS

WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT A VIP TICKET VERSUS GENERAL ADMISSION?

A VIP Ticket offers several things: 

(1) a one-hour head start (6:30pm versus 7:30pm) on bidding for items that are first-come, first serve--some of the most popular school parties have limited spots at a fixed price (pro tip--ask a parent who's been to Auction before); 

(2) a seat at a 10-person round dinner table (with other VIPs of your choosing for VIP Table Sponsors); 

(3) an extra hour to eat and drink, seated at a 10-person round dinner table; 

(4) wine ring toss entries (for VIP Table Sponsors); 

(5) heads/tail dance game entries; 

(6) parking passes (for VIP Ringmaster Table Sponsors);

(7) recognition in the printed Auction Catalog.

WHAT THE HECK DO YOU WEAR TO A VINTAGE CIRCUS GALA?

The attire is formal (black tie optional) and/or circus chic. A cocktail dress or suit and tie is fine. A lion tamer outfit or ringmaster suit is also fine.  Be creative or wear that perfect black dress! 

WHAT DO YOU DO AT THE AUCTION?

There's plenty of fun for every extrovert and introvert--casino games, dancing games, sitting quietly at the dinner table and eating, silently bidding on items and school perks, talking to your favorite teacher, getting to know other Roberts parents better!

WHAT IF I CAN’T COME BUT STILL WANT TO BID?

You can purchase a Mobile Bidder ticket!  Go to the Ticket page for details.

I'M NEW TO ROBERTS--I DON'T KNOW ANYONE, SHOULD I COME?

YES TIMES 100! That's why you should come to the Auction and Gala to meet other RE parents!  We were all new to Roberts Elementary at one point and didn't know anyone. Talk to other parents in your kid's class and buy a table together! Or just reach out to auction@robertspto.org and we can try and seat you with other families new to Roberts.

I'M OLD TO ROBERTS--CAN ALUMNI COME?

Yes! Buy a table together and hang out with other Alumni Parents! Or just reach out to auction@robertspto.org and we can try and seat you with other families old to Roberts. Spread the word at your kids' middle schools!

WHAT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS? GODPARENTS? FAMILY FRIENDS? PEOPLE THAT LIKE LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

Yes to all of the above! The more people that can support our school, teachers, staff, and students, the better!

WHAT'S THE FOOD/DRINK LIKE? VEGGIE OPTION?

There will be a variety of buffet items including meat, seafood, and vegetarian/vegan options. We promise NO DRY CHICKEN BREASTS. The beer and wine will likely be vegan; not too sure about the soft drinks. 

WHAT'S IN THE SILENT AUCTION?

The silent auction will have items donated by businesses, Kindergarten Theme Baskets, school perks, school parties, family-hosted parties, and straight up donations for the new library.  All bidding will be done on your mobile device through the Auction website/app. Once you purchase tickets, you will receive instructions on setting this up.  

I OWN A BUSINESS; I TEACH A HOBBY/SKILL; AND/OR I HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO...HOW CAN I HELP?

We would love your help. Please consider donating an item, service, or skill to the silent auction!  We've had parents teach cooking classes, tennis classes, and take students and parents on learning adventures. If you have an in-kind donation, service, or skill to offer, please reach out to auction@robertspto.org for advertising opportunities in the Auction Catalog and throughout the Auction evening as well as in-kind ticket discounts.  

WHAT'S A FAMILY-HOSTED AUCTION PARTY?

The most fun way to enjoy Auction is to bid on and host Auction Parties!  An Auction Party involves a Roberts Family or Families coming together to host an event--it's a great way to get to know RE families and have an amazing cultural or gastronomic experience. Some are parties for children; some parties are for parents/adults only; some are for everyone! Here's a sampling of last year's Auction Parties all hosted by our wonderful RE families: Fancy Family Tea Party; Hawaiian Luau and Pig Roast; Gingerbread House decorating; Yoga and Champagne Brunch; Whose Wine is It?; Tacos and Tequila; RE Mom's Kickball Game; Art Gallery visit and Artist Talk; Nature Hike with a Rice Professor; Russian Dinner Party; Barbies and Bounce House, Whisky Tasting, Pizza Party with a real Pizzaiolo, just to name a few.  

So think about what party YOU want to host!  Love to cook but your house isn't big enough?  Hate to cook but have a large house or backyard?  Get together with your friends and co-host! Costs are borne by the hosts (please email auction@robertspto.org if you have a question).

WILL THERE BE RECOGNITION FOR GIVING LEVELS?

DONOR NAMING BENEFITS: 

IT ALL ADDS UP TO YOUR NEW ROBERTS LIBRARY!

GO BIG ON A CONDO IN HONDURAS OR BUY A FEW SONGS FROM THE DJ—it ALL adds up to YOUR NEW ROBERTS LIBRARY! Donor Naming Benefits are determined by each bidder/bidding family’s total of (1) monetary donations made at Auction and/or since 1/1/2024 for the benefit of Auction; (2) winning bids for items, parties, and perks at Auction; and (3) purchases made at Auction (wine ring toss, DJ song request, Heads/Tails, etc.). Donor Benefits determination does not include the ticket purchase price. The Roberts PTO Auction Committee will contact you via email after Auction with your benefits level.

 REader: $125

• Personalized bookplate—1 Library book

 Friend: $250

• Personalized bookplates—3 Library books

 Leader: $500

• Personalized bookplates—5 Library books
• Invitation to a reception for Re-Dedication of the Library 

 Partner: $1,000

• Personalized bookplates—5 Library books
• Permanent recognition on a donor structure in Library as a Partner(s) of the Library (size varies by giving level)
• Invitation to a reception for Re-Dedication of the Library 

  Patron: $2,500

• Personalized bookplates—5 Library books
• Permanent recognition on a donor structure in Library as a Patron(s) of the Library (size varies by giving level)
• Invitation to a reception for Re-Dedication of the Library 

 Guardian: $5,000+ 

• Personalized bookplates—5 Library books
• Permanent recognition on a donor structure in Library as a Guardian(s) of the Library (size varies by giving level)
• Naming Rights* on a bronze plaque for an entire bookshelf or furniture (please contact auction@robertspto.org)
• Invitation to a reception for Re-Dedication of the Library 

 Champion: $10,000+

• Personalized bookplates—5 Library books
• Permanent recognition on a donor structure in Library as a Champion(s) of the Library (size varies by giving level)
• Naming Rights* to a Library section or area (please contact auction@robertspto.org)
• Invitation to a reception for Re-Dedication of the Library 

*Naming Rights for Guardian and Champion Benefits will remain for the useful life of the Library area, shelf, or furniture, not to exceed 25 years; a donor plaque will remain in perpetuity acknowledging the donations by Guardian and Champions after end of useful life of the area, shelf, or furniture. 

WHAT ABOUT CORPORATE MATCHING?

Yes! We can provide you a receipt that conforms to your company's corporate matching policies.  Just email auction@robertspto.org after the Auction ends to discuss.

BUT I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!

No worries; we will try and answer them! Just email us at auction@robertspto.org!