Baubles & Boots 2022

The BISD Education Foundation just hosted our annual fundraiser, Baubles & Boots. On Saturday, 2/12, we began welcoming guests into Antler Oaks Lodge. We weren’t sure how the night would go, as we sold a limited number of tickets prior to the event than normal before the event. However, shortly after 5, the lodge started to fill up. Guests showed up and purchased tickets at the door, and by 6pm the place was buzzing.
Around 6, the Foundation’s president, Alyssa Cothran, gave a welcome speech, followed by Superintendent, Mr. Gary Bitzkie, who explained the impact that the Education Foundation has on BISD. Several teachers were in attendance who had personally received grants from the foundation, and they were recognized. The silent auction had more items than ever before and ran through most of the night.  
At 6:30 sharp, the auctioneer started the live auction, which consisted of 14 items and included prizes such as flags made at Warriors Heart, a day in the life of our superintendent, a custom painted cow skull completed by BHS teacher, Mrs. Nicole Gard, and tickets to the San Antonio Rodeo. The entire place buzzed with laughter, good-hearted rivalry, and competition. Several items were doubled or tripled up on, such as the day in the life of the superintendent, and other items had bidding wars to the end.
After the live auction, a new opportunity to give was presented, and guests from around the room selflessly pledged to donate monetarily in addition to, or in lieu of, items they may not have won. Shortly after the auction, tables were closed, but the fun didn’t end. The entire event had a lively, fun energy and people stayed back and visited and mingled for a little while. 
Overall, the event was immensely successful. We have so many people we’d like to thank, including our guests, auction item donors, and sponsors. This was truly a community wide event, and it wouldn’t have been as successful as it was without the community rallying together to collect donations and give generously to our teachers and students.
Final bills and donations are still being tallied, but we can safely say that we brought in over $70,000 between donations, sponsors, and auction items, which makes this our biggest year ever! All of that will go back into the school system in the form of grants for our teachers. 
We seriously cannot thank everyone enough for supporting our foundation and for the growth that it has continued to see. We’re already looking forward to Baubles & Boots 2023!

Thank you to all of our sponsors below:
 
Diamond Sponsors:
Antler Oaks Lodge
Dianna and Harry Harris
Millie & Marie
PaveCo.
Southwest Food Services
Warriors Heart
 
Emerald Sponsors:
Arc Rite Welding
Bandera Electric Coop
Buddy’s Water Well and Septic
Spirits of Texas
 
Ruby Sponsors:
HyO Silver
James Avery Craftsman
Texas Farm Credit
 
Sapphire Sponsors:
Hevenor Lumber
Hondo National Bank
Marksmen General Contractors
 
Follow us on Facebook to see our prize posse, where we give our teachers checks for their grants, in the fall.