Ok to skip annual fundraising gala night?

[Anonymous]

I find it a bit overpriced, and I already contribute to the annual giving campaign. Is it okay to skip the school’s fundraising gala night? Should I feel bad about it?

[Anonymous]

Of course you can skip and no you shouldn't feel bad about it. I haven't gone in the 6 years my kid has been in private school and no one notices or cares. Go if you would enjoy it; otherwise, stay home.

[Anonymous]

Who cares. We all have busy schedules.

[Anonymous]

When my kids were in a K-8, we went twice, I think, and we hated every second of it. I absolutely couldn’t understand why people would bid on this random stuff, and it separated the haves from have nots. We were certainly have nots. As my kids got to high school (and went to different ones), we never entertained the idea of going, mostly because we benefit from FA, and I would be embarrassed to admit that since that’s the point of the night.

[Anonymous]

Yes, skip it. No, don’t feel bad.

[Anonymous]

I’m on the board of several orgs that serve children in war zones and I have to go the galas etc. I hate the big fundraisers and would rather have people just give quietly and call it a day! Don’t feel bad about not going!

[Anonymous]

You have my permission

[Anonymous]

No one cares. I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it a bit overpriced, and I already contribute to the annual giving campaign. Is it okay to skip the school’s fundraising gala night? Should I feel bad about it?

We skip the ones at our schools. We just do not have the time.

[Anonymous]

I feel bad that you need someone to tell you it's okay not to attend a school fundraiser. It must be exhausting to be a people pleaser to this extent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it a bit overpriced, and I already contribute to the annual giving campaign. Is it okay to skip the school’s fundraising gala night? Should I feel bad about it?

Kid is a junior. We’ve never gone and never will. Not our thing. We donate every year and don’t go to the party they throw for donors, either. DH and I are both introverts. We chat with the parents we know at the smaller events like performances, and that’s all the socializing we need to do.

[Anonymous]

My parents always skipped my school auction night by the time I came along (I have an older sibling). They thought auction night was truly horrifying. The school had senior girls acting as waitresses and my parents thought it was awful that all these girls were witnessing all these parents get wasted. They also thought the public bidding was an obnoxious display of wealth.

[Anonymous]

It's just great to see rich people giving donations to other rich people. I think it's written somewhere in the Bible about when rich people help other millionaires and billionaires they get to like ride sort of camel with needle eyes around. It's such a trippy book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad that you need someone to tell you it's okay not to attend a school fundraiser. It must be exhausting to be a people pleaser to this extent.

Don’t feel too bad, there are jerks without empathy that are worse that people pleasers.

[Anonymous]

I went to the first one our K-8 did. The social part of it was fun but I didn’t want any of the donated baskets. The 2nd one got canceled, I assume due to poor attendance. Plus it’s hard to pull it off with not many volunteers. There are easier ways to fundraise.