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Pinewoods Elementary: Online auction to raise funds for playground

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Pinewoods Elementary School parent volunteers hope to raise $55,000 by June for another new playground, after recently launching a Web-based silent auction.

The group raised slightly more than $20,000 last February by selling "Pancakes for Playgrounds" with the help of the Estero Gulf Coast Kiwanis Club and Beef 'O' Brady's in Estero. Proceeds were used to build a new playground for kindergarten, first and second graders at the school.

Now the Pennies4Playgrounds Committee hopes to raise enough money to replace the play ground for third through fifth graders.

According to a press release, the school's current playground is more than 12 years old and, due to sun exposure, hurricane damage and normal wear and tear, it has been reduced to a couple of swings and monkey bars.

"A lot of equipment has been removed for safety, and the current playground no longer accommodates the 1,000 students who attend our growing school," parent volunteer Dawn Itzkowitz said in the release.

The Pennies4Playgrounds auction works similar to ebay, a popular online auction where users can sell and bid items from the comfort of their home. The Pennies4Playgrounds Web site features family friendly items, such as DVDs, autographed memorabilia, sporting event tickets, toys and more.

"We're trying to make it family-friendly, as well as family interesting so every personality can find something on there," Kathy Steggemann, parent volunteer and PTO member, said.

Steggemann has two sons, a first grader and a second grader, at Pinewoods Elementary School.

Currently, the Web site has eight items to bid on and the Pennies4Playgrounds Committee will be accepting donations over the next year. The committee members are each trying to bring in at least one donated item a month, and they are always looking for more volunteers.

"We've done some smaller fundraising, but the Web page is what we're really trying to kick off right now," Steggemann said.

In addition to the online silent auction, which is continually changing as bidding dates end and new items are added, those interested in helping can also donate money on the site, and purchase an inscribed paver for the playground with their company, family, or children's name for a minimum donation of $100.

According to Steggemann, business on the Web site is a little slow right now, but they do have PayPal available to bidders and donators, as well as a list of all sponsors.

"We're still in the growing pains," Steggemann said.

Kris Davis, a parent-volunteer who owns Blue Results, a cross media marketing company, donated and designed the Web site and print materials to help the cause. He has a son in Kindergarten at Pinewoods Elementary and a three-year-old son who will attend the school in a few years.

"They'll both reap rewards from what we're doing now," Davis said.

Instead of renting a clubhouse to have a silent auction, the Web site was a perfect fit for the project.

"Everybody can get involved, on a less formal, smaller scale basis," Davis said. "And, we can keep the excitement going for an entire year, not just one night."

Word is spreading quickly to the rest of the country, the group added, stating that the site has seen bids from California, Ohio and Michigan.

"It's been kind of viral," Davis said.

The challenge they face now is attracting even more visitors and finding people interested in donating items to sell online, he added.

"Pennies4Playgrounds is about the community, family and children," he commented in the release. "We have affordable auction items making it easy for everyone to participate, and we are looking forward to receiving more great contributions from the community."

For more information about Pennies4Playgrounds or to make a donation, please call (239) 221-2859, or visit www.pennies4playgrounds.or g.