FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gala?
Why do we have a Gala?
When and where is the Gala?
This year’s Gala will be held on Saturday, March 9th, from 5:30pm to 11:00pm at the Omni Interlocken in Broomfield, Colorado. The silent auction will begin promptly at 5:30pm, along with several stations, including a photo booth, wine pull, liquor pull, and our always popular Secret Sips. This will be followed by a seated dinner and live auction. We'll wrap up the night with a DJ/dancing after dinner. This year’s theme is Casino Royale: A Night to Bond & Bid High for Aspen Ridge!
Want to stay the night at the Omni? Use this link and book by March 4th to reserve your room at our special rate, exclusively for Aspen Ridge Spring Gala attendees!
How much are the tickets and when/where will they be on sale?
Tickets are on sale now for $75 at this link: https://aspenridgeprepschool.revtrak.net/spring-gala/#/list
Ticket sales will close on Sunday, March 3rd.
What does dinner include?
- SHERRY BRAISED SHORT RIB | Maple demi-glace. Served with mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach and roasted roma tomato (GF)
- SEARED CHICKEN BREAST | Herb- roasted chicken jus. Served with roasted bliss potatoes, lemon roasted broccolini and blistered tomatoes (GF)
- MUSHROOM RISOTTO | Seared trumpet mushroom, confit garlic, balsamic cipollini, truffle oil (GF)
- Honey Graham Cracker Cheesecake with chocolate dipped honeycomb (GF)
- Chocolate Mousse & Salted Caramel (GF)
What should I wear?
Cocktail to formal attire is suggested, but not required. This year’s theme is Casino Royale, so blacks, reds, golds, jewel tones, shimmer/sequence, or really anything that makes you feel fabulous will be welcome!
What kinds of items are up for bid in the silent and live auctions?
The auctions include a range of items to bid on, including fantastic trips, fun local outings, restaurants for date nights or family dinners, parties, sports tickets, beauty and fitness services, and more! Thanks to our generous donors, we have a wide variety of items and packages to choose from.
Our silent auction includes items for every budget, with offerings at a variety of price levels. Our goal is for everyone to have a chance to participate in this fun night of fundraising!
How does the Gala acquire items for the silent and live auctions?
We have a team of parent volunteers who contact local and national businesses to request donations for our silent and live auctions. Each grade level (Prek-8th) creates an amazing basket/experience that is auctioned off in the live auction, and our Teacher Treasures are also included in the live auction. (See more on that below!) Many of our most exciting donations come from ARPS families and friends who share a little part of themselves through their contributions. If you have a good/service/item/experience that you would like to donate to the silent or live auction, please reach out to [email protected]. You are also welcome to purchase an item from our Amazon Wish List (link coming soon!), which we can then include in our silent auction.
What is the Fund-A-Need?
The Fund-A-Need is a segment of the live auction that involves lively pledging of cash donations to help us fulfill a specific school need. Bidding is done by raising your bidder number at the highest donation level that feels right for your family's budget. Past Fund-A-Need projects have included work tables for the art studio, library shelves, our rock wall, our kiln, the Book Vending Machine, and most recently protective film on all of our exterior glass surfaces.
This year's Fund-A-Need will help us create a Maker Space to encourage STEM exploration for our Kindergarten through 8th grade students! A Makerspace is an innovative learning environment equipped with various tools, materials, and technologies. It fosters hands-on, collaborative learning experiences that naturally integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts. By experimenting with different tools and materials, students can unleash their creativity, develop innovative solutions, and turn their ideas into tangible projects. In addition to hands-on materials that are appropriate for even our youngest Owls, our Makerspace will incorporate tools like 3D printers, robotics kits, and computer programming platforms, allowing students to develop digital literacy skills and stay ahead in an increasingly tech-oriented world. We aim to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every student has the opportunity to innovate, prototype, and invent. We're excited to bring this hub of curiosity to our students at ARPS!
Tell me about the Teacher Treasures!
Each year, our amazing faculty offers fantastic outings and experiences to share with Aspen Ridge students. These are some of the most popular items during our live auction each year! Outings include trips to Top Golf, Crackpots, the Zoo, the Denver Museum of Science and Nature, and more! Don’t miss out on these priceless experiences!
Are Gala donations tax deductible?
As Aspen Ridge Preparatory School is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity (Tax ID 27-0726515), your donation may be tax deductible. Please consult with your tax preparer regarding your contribution’s deductibility.
How and when do I pay for my winning bids and donations?
This year's Spring Gala will once again feature online bidding and payments. Guests will download the Handbid app to browse and bid on all of our incredible auction items. At the end of the evening, you will receive an invoice on your phone that you can pay by credit card. You will also have the option of paying by cash or check at the checkout.
Unable to attend and still want to support the Gala?
We welcome your donations and support even if you are unable to attend the Gala. You can make a monetary donation through Revtrak at this link, or you can purchase an item from our Amazon Wish List that we will then include in our silent auction. You can also lend a hand in the weeks and days leading up to the Gala as we pull together all of the details for this incredible night of fun and fundraising. Send us an email at [email protected] if you have any questions about the best way to support our Spring Gala.