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# Raising money proves elementary for John Muir school
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/raising-money-proves-elementary-for-john-muir-school/
- Published: 2006-03-10T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:20:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*Supporters of a local school raised more than $30,000 in one night.*

*By JUNE STODDARD Special to the Daily Press*

On Feb. 24, John Muir Elementary held its most profitable fundraiser ever. The Ocean Park elementary school, with just 360 students, is a well-kept secret haven for children to learn and grow. It was their first year holding the “Watch Us Soar” Annual Silent Auction at the Victorian, down the block from Muir at Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard.

More than 325 auction items went on the block, both silent and live. The venue’s layout is a two-story, sprawling Victorian home, built in 1894 and decorated by Louis Marx with authentic pieces from the period.

The ambiance of the gala event was set just walking in the door. The 170 guests felt instantly at home and went to work discovering auction items both up and downstairs, with bidding starting as low as $10, while enjoying the hosted wine bar and appetizers created by DuckDuckMousse Catering. Favorite bidding items every year are: “Principal for the day,” “time with favorite teachers,” as well as certificates for restaurants, spas, massages, hotel stays, vacations in far off places, among hundreds of others. The silent auction ended just as the buffet dinner downstairs began surrounded by the art, and live auction pieces. After dinner, the live auction trip to Hawaii — including a seven nights stay in a penthouse beachfront condo, half-day fishing charter, scuba dive, and fresh-caught dinner — went for $2,800\. In a “live ask” school supporters raised approximately $3,500 for their library renovation.

As a result of approaching local businesses to underwrite this year’s auction, all of the funds raised are going directly toward school programs. The event netted more than $32,000 for John Muir’s library, science, technology, and art programs, thanks to dozens of sponsors. John Muir is a Title One school, meaning many of its students are low income.

Meighan McGuire spearheaded the fundraising effort this year after serving as PTA president for the last two years. She was supported by auction helpers: Jane Bordal, Clara Sturak, Lauren Lambert, Betty McNamura, Bonnie Bennetts, Karla Klarins, Liz Gutierrez, Chris Dickenson, Martha Duran- Contreras, Thea Mercouffer, Lorelle Carter and Nicole Picard.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 10, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031006.pdf?ref=smdp.com)