Dear Neighborhood Business,

Hillcrest School, located in Oakland, California, is a public K-8 school serving over 350 neighborhood children.  Hillcrest is a 2016 nominee as a National Blue Ribbon School in the category of Academic Achievement, awarded each year by the Department of Education to only 300 schools nationally.The annual Benefit Auction, organized by Hillcrest's PTA, is our most significant fundraising event of the year.  The proceeds fund music, art, language, technology and library programs that the Oakland Unified School District cannot support due to budget constraints.  We would not be able to offer these important programs to our students without the generous support of businesses like yours.

Not only does our community ensure a great education for Hillcrest students, the PTA also donates money and support services to other Oakland Organizations and Schools. Last year, a $15,000 donation was made to Piedmont Avenue Elementary.  Prior recipients include Peralta Elementary, Sankofa Academy, PLACE @ Prescott, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary and Raising a Reader – Alameda County.  For the 2016-17 school year, we’re enthusiastic to contribute to Emerson Elementary, an Oakland public school located in the nearby Temescal neighborhood.

We are asking for our community's support and a donation of an item or gift certificate that can be auctioned at this event on November 5, 2016. In addition, or in the alternative, you can purchase sponsorship space in our auction catalog and logo shopping bags, which will be distributed across our community. All donors are also recognized in the catalog.

If you are interested in helping, your tax-deductible donation or advertising purchase can be made online (hillcrest.ejoinme.org/2016Benefit), by e-mail (benefit@hillcrestpta.org), or by mail (Hillcrest School, 30 Marguerite Drive, Oakland, CA 94618).  We are also happy to arrange donation pick up at your convenience (benefit@hillcrestpta.org)!  The deadline for donations is October 12th, and a receipt will be e-mailed for all donations received.  Our 501(c)(3) non-profit Tax ID number is 94-6172363.

Thanks so much for your support!

Sincerely,