Frequently Asked Questions
New to LPE Auctions?
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Each year, the adults of Loma Portal - parents, caregivers, (current, alumni & prospective), and staff - come together to raise the funds needed to continue funding the amazing programs our students benefit from but our district funding doesn’t provide, such as STEAM, library, and music.
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Well, first, YOU are the Foundation. Every caregiver and staff member of LPE is automatically a member of the Foundation which provides funding for our librarian, STEAM teacher, and music program, as well as two field trips for every grade, educational technologies and subscriptions, the STEAM lab, and improvements to the campus as evidenced recently in the library, room 10, and auditorium. For more information on all of this check out some of the other pages on this website or contact anyone on the board.
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As our second-largest fundraiser of the year behind Jog-a-Thon, the Auction’s success is crucial to meeting our yearly budget goals and ensuring the continuity of the exceptional programs in place for our students.
Additionally, each year, the staff and Mr. Morici consider an area of special focus and we work together to determine our Fund-a-Need campaign.
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The district already advised that funding for the Leader in Me program has been cut after this year. Given the success of this program at Loma Portal, we find it prudent to continue funding access to the curriculum and program coach.
Keep watching our communication channels for more information on how Loma Portal benefits from this valuable program.
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That would be lovely, but unfortunately, in order to cover the costs of the event, this is the lowest price we can offer. In fact, ticket prices will increase as we get closer to the event, so secure your tickets early. Every effort has been made to reduce costs, negotiate vendor prices, and secure sponsorships in order to keep the prices as low as possible.
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Check out the sections below. If you still have unanswered auction-related questions, feel free to email lomaportalauction@gmail.com.
Start here…
Curious what’s different
this year?
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Quite simply, the cost of running an event at BRICK was high considering we are here to raise money for the school. After much consideration, we decided it was important to use a location that enabled more of the money raised to make it back to the school programs. Pre-COVID, the Foundation hosted several auctions at the Southwestern Yacht Club with great success.
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Well, not much should be different in that the basic framework of the event remains the same: dinner & drinks, silent and live auctions, an awesome video followed by our fund-a-need campaign, entertainment, and a photo booth - spending time with the amazing LPE community while raising much needed money - always a fun evening.
One caveat is that our space and therefore capacity are more limited than in years past. Please do not wait until the last minute to buy your ticket! We will likely sell out and be unable to accommodate walk-ins.
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Spacing, I’ll say it again: buy your tickets early! Also, this is a plated dinner, you will make your dinner selection when you purchase your ticket.
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The theme is Love Boat and it is open for you to interpret as you so choose. You are not tied to the sitcom or coupledom, be creative!
It is always exciting to see everyone’s creative interpretations of the theme; and, the group coordinations never disappoint.
So, the short answer is yes, you dress up. This is not the place where you will stand out for dressing up; this is the place where you will be the anomaly if you don’t. But, dress up as you are comfortable doing. The night is about having a good time with good people for a good cause. -
Yes! Thanks for asking.
Other than attend and support the auction, if you have any items or services (tickets, vacation rentals, gift cards) that can be donated to the silent auction, or know of someone who does, please email lomaportalauction@gmail.comto coordinate the donation or visit the in-kind donationpage.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available and can be coordinated through the linked page or by contacting lomaportalauction@org.com. -
Yes and it pertains to the silent auction which will be completely online this year. Read the section below for more details.
Start here…
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An auction where bidding for each item is done electronically or on paper rather than calling it out or raising your hand.
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Of course, we need to know how to determine the winner!
We will begin the silent auction online on Monday, March 17 at 8:30am at the Foundation Coffeehouse Art Show which will showcase the classroom art projects.
Bidding will remain open throughout the week and close at the event just prior to the start of the live auction, at approximately 7:30pm on Friday, March 21.
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We’re sorry you can’t make it to the event, but that doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the bidding.
Since all silent auction bidding will be online this year, you can stay current with the auction items, even if you aren’t at the event.
The online bidding platform also allows you to set a maximum bid and will bid on your behalf until that amount is reached so you don’t have to babysit the individual listings.
Additionally, many items will have a BUY IT NOW option. Relieve all the auction anxiety and secure the item for yourself at the price that is listed. You can complete your purchase online and delivery will be arranged.
Silent auction bidding will end at the event, just prior to the live auction, sometime between 7pm and 8pm (end time will be posted on the auction page once it is open).
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We have secured a variety of items to bid on from partners in our community, from sports tickets to restaurant gift cards to kids’ camp opportunities to jewelry and everything in between.
We also have 2 special Loma Portal categories: Class Art and Teacher Features, see below for more information on each of these.
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Every year, parent volunteers create a piece of art with each class to be sold at the auction. These projects can be anything from a popcorn bowl to backyard Jenga to a canvas. The creativity of our volunteers is amazing, and the art provided by our students is a great way to remember this year at Loma Portal.
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YES! The art will be shown for a special auction preview during the
March 17 Foundation Coffee House Art Show at 8:30am.
Come to Room 10 after drop-off for a cup of coffee and to look at all the class art. Coincidentally, the bidding starts at this time as well.
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There is no denying that our LPE teachers are incredible, so much so that our kids want to hang out with them even when school is over.
Now they have the chance!
Teacher features are an opportunity for students to participate in an after-school activity with their teacher, or with all the teachers for their grade and a handful of friends. Past activities range from park picnics to milkshakes & games at Corvette Diner to Hot Spot pottery to a pizza and art party to a movie at the LOT.
LPE teachers always create a fun time and the students leave with more great Loma Portal memories.
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Absolutely! As was mentioned above, with the move to a completely online silent auction, you are able to bid from anywhere. And, with the ability to enter a maximum bid , you can set it and forget it.
The bidding platform will notify you if you have been outbid and when the auction closes, you can easily see the items you have won and complete your purchases.
And, don’t forget, all Class Art and Teacher Feature listings will have BUY IT NOW options. So, if you can’t risk not winning in the bidding war, secure your item immediately with this option.
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You pay a premium for being able to take that item off the market completely with a sale rather than continuing to bid. For those that want to make sure they don’t miss out on a specific item, that premium may be worth it. Otherwise, you have the option of continuing to bid and the risk that goes along with it.
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Yes. We will have a raffle, tickets are on sale online right now, or they can be purchased at the event.
We also have a fun option called Pass the Tray that has been a big hit the past couple years: Find the volunteer at the event with the tray (if she hasn’t already sold out!) and for $20 you choose an envelope. You are guaranteed to walk away with something worth at least $20 so there is no losing! It could be a bottle of wine to pick up when you leave, it could be a gift card, you never know.
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Once the link is available, it will be posted on the main auction page as well as here.
Silent Auction Information
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Similar to previous years, the live auction is reserved for experiences unique and meaningful to our community: Principal for the Day, a Reserved Parking Space, our Annual Summer Kick Off Party, and more.
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You can arrange for a proxy bidder by emailing lomaportalauction@gmail.com. In this scenario, an event volunteer will bid on your behalf up to your specified amount. If your bid wins, you will be charged for the item.
Tickets to the Summer Kick Off Party will be available for sale after the auction, no need to arrange a proxy bidder for those.
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When you check in, you are given a program with a number on the back, this is your bidding number. When the auction is being called, you raise your bid number for the dollar amount you are willing to pay for that item. If you are the highest bidder, you pay that amount for the item. This is a binding commitment to pay. Please pay for your items prior to leaving the event.
Live Auction Information
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No, unfortunately the Foundation website does not have the capability to host and manage the actual auction listings and online bidding. Whenever possible, the Foundation website will be used for sales and links to the Paybee auction site will be posted here as well.
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If you attended a Loma Portal auction in the last 3 years, or any other event using Paybee, you will use your email address to log in (reset your password if needed).
If you are new to Paybee, you will be prompted sometime before you check out to create a login. Anyone either attending the event or bidding online will eventually end up with a Paybee account.
Purchases made online before the event, BUY IT NOW items, or items that are sold for a set price such as a spot in the kickball game, can be completed in Paybee with your credit card. An email will come to the auction chair who will reach out to advise of any delivery/redemption coordination or to email digital certificates.
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After the silent auction is complete, and the live auction and Fund-a-Need are over, event volunteers will be updating Paybee so all your purchases will show in your cart. This will include all silent and live auction wins and fund-a-need pledges as well as any kid photo, pass the tray, or drink and raffle ticket purchases from the event.
You can check out from your phone, at the registration table, or volunteers will be coming around to tables to check out guests. Once your items are paid for, please retrieve any physical items you have purchased from the volunteers before you leave; digital items will be emailed shortly after the event.
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Even if you have paid for items in the past, cards aren’t necessarily stored in Paybee in a way that allows volunteers to access them for payment of current items. You may have given the volunteers a card number at check in to add to your account, which is much appreciated and streamlines the process. In this case, we can access the cart and charge you, but we do like to confirm that all charges are accurate prior to completing the transaction. Volunteers will still seek you out to approve the cart and acknowledge that you are being charged for your purchases in order to avoid any discrepancies and to give you any physical items that you have won.
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Please forward your receipt to lomaportalauction@gmail.com along with the explanation of the error. The issue will be reviewed, and you will be contacted as quickly as possible in order to resolve.
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Of course; we make it easy to pay us:
You can Venmo the Foundation, @LPE-Foundation,
Use Paypal through the Foundation website: lomaportalfoundation.org/donate and write “auction” in the notes,
Write a check to Loma Portal Foundation,
Pay with cash, or
Find the volunteer with the Square app at the event and tap to pay.
If you are paying through a foundation or donor advised fund, please have checks sent to:
Loma Portal Foundation
3639 Midway Drive, B428
San Diego, CA 92110Don’t forget to check your employer’s matching gift program! Contact lomaportalauction@gmail.com or lomaportal.treasurer@gmail.com with questions or if you need assistance facilitating a corporate match.