Auctioneer Cindy Schorno & her brother World Auto Auctioneer Champion Danny Schorno, seated is CSE Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus, Carey Miller

Guests checking-out & bidding on Silent Auction items

CSE Auction guests Steve Klein, Congressional Candidate & Rep. Tom Campbell and his wife Lynn
All photos courtesy of the Children's School of Excellence (CSE)

The Children's School of Excellence, located in Rainier, Washington, held their 6th Annual Auction on Saturday, June 27th at the CSE campus on a delightful sunny afternoon. Over 500 people gathered for the festivities, starting at 3pm for a Silent Auction, followed by a buffet four-course dinner and a Live Auction with World Auto Auctioneer Champion Danny Schorno and his sister Cindy, children of Auctioneer Larry Schorno.

Actress Linda Evans and philanthropist Roberta Brittingham were the honorary co-chairs of the event. Attendees were from a broad spectrum of the community, including CSE families, friends, supporting local business owners and special guests, Congressional Candidate & Rep. Tom Campbell and his wife Lynn.

The highlight of the evening was a performance from the student’s themselves and a new video documentary about the school’s vision and programs. The most highly anticipated item for auction was the private audience with Ramtha donated by JZ Knight that garnered $37,500. Other items of note were a Claw Foot Tub donated by actress Salma Hayek, a large garden array from Gordon's Garden Center, an MXU 150 ATV donated by CSE founder Marjorie Laydon & Paulson's ATV'S, and a Five Jetted Soaking Bathtub from Yelm's Lasco Bathware. There were three full-year tuition endowments towards financial aid donated by Marjorie Layden, Linda Evans, and Yael & Steve Klein, which launched a paddle call for Financial Aid raising over $37,000 to provide financial assistance to students who, without such assistance would not have the opportunity for a CSE education.

"We are very proud to announce that $142,197.49 was raised at CSE’s 6th Annual Auction. This was our most successful auction, not in dollars, but in community spirit and support. There was more good will, volunteerism, and guests in attendance whose involvement, care, friendship and commitment keep our school growing and thriving. The Board, Faculty and Staff are honored and our students and families are blessed and treasured by a truly special and remarkable community," expressed a CSE Board of Trustees member to the Yelm Community Blog.

Other area Schools' Auctions in 2009:
- The Yelm Dollars for Scholars annual auction raised more than $140,000 for scholarships in March, 2009.

- The Rainier Education Foundation Auction Saturday [March 21] raised nearly $43,000 for scholarships and teacher grants, just shy of last year’s total.

The community opening their wallets for our area children with almost $325,000 in donations in this economic environment is truly amazing.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BENEFICIARIES - OUR LOCAL STUDENTS!
AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THE FUNDRAISERS IN 2009!