Approximately $20,000 was raised and the proceeds will benefit the Playground Fund, to replace the outdated playground located on School District owned land at the East Side Recreation fields. Garland Nelson and members of his band, Soul Session, along with surprise guest singers, entertained the crowd of almost 200 at Prime at Saratoga National. Amongst items live auctioned was a “Hattie’s Backyard Throwdown” donated by Caroline Street Elementary parents Beth and Jasper Alexander, owners of Hattie’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs.
“What I most enjoyed was seeing so many parents, grandparents, families and friends who came out to support the playground project, some whose children do not even attend Caroline Street Elementary. It is a community playground, and the community definitely showed up and their su pport was evident,” said Bernadette Sprinkle and Heather Fresh in a press release, Caroline Street parents, PTSO members and chairs of the event.
Fresh and Jill Warmbier worked tirelessly to acquire an array of silent auction items, donated from local businesses and Caroline families. Moms and dads mingled while perusing the silent auction items: Yankees tickets, an American Girl Doll, ballet tickets, Designer for a Day with Jen Jen from Miss Scarlets, Tequila tasting at the Mexican Connection, five-course wine pairing dinner at Javier’s new Latin cuisine restaurant, Embrace the Race swag and Day at the Races. The live auction was exciting as the principal of Caroline Street Elementary, Mr. O’Rourke, acted as auctioneer; moms and dads bid on a one-of-a-kind picnic bench adorned with the handprints of all Caroline Street first-graders and the “Hattie’s Backyard Throwdown.” Even a Prime Parking Spot at the school was auctioned off, all with the proceeds to go to the playground fund.
The Caroline Street Elementary will continue to host small fundraisers and this summer will begin to apply for grants. To help with the Playground Committee please visit the website: www.carolinestreetplayground.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
