CONTRIBUTED

The O'Neal School hosted its 40th annual auction "Forty and Fabulous" on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst.

Parents and members of the O'Neal community gathered for O'Neal's largest single fundraising event of the year to celebrate 40 years of educating children in the Sandhills.

Proceeds from the annual auction support the school's annual operating budget. This year's net revenue totaled more than $225,000 - an all-time record, beating the last record-breaking numbers by 33 percent.

The auction consists of a live and a silent component. A notable event in this year's live auction was the "Fund a Need" item. Bidders were allowed to pledge anywhere from $100 to $4,000 toward professional development for O'Neal's faculty. Pledges toward this effort were more than $45,000.

"I as well as our attending faculty members were overwhelmed by witnessing the outpouring of support for a necessary component of delivering quality education relevant to the 21st century," says Headmaster Alan Barr. "On behalf of O'Neal's faculty members, I am truly grateful."

The annual auction chairs this year were parents of alumni, Beverly and Jerry O'Donnell and Alice and Wayne Robbins. Auction executive committee members Beverly O'Donnell, Konni McMurray, Kim Meeks and Sue Gibbons, along with countless parent volunteers, turned the Fair Barn into a beautiful gathering place with a hint of music played by student musicians.

"You could feel the electricity in the air," says Lynn Melton, auction director. "This event continues to be a positive reflection of the community's support for O'Neal. The night was magical and truly 'Forty and Fabulous.'"

A variety of live auction items were on the block, such as tickets to Jerry Seinfeld in concert, a complete orthodontic case by Dr. Michael Henry, a trip to the Cayman Islands and more.

Four hundred and fifty items were up for bid in the silent auction. Categories included items for the home, outdoor, for her/for him, youth, student creations, sports, golf, travel and entertainment, pottery, food and jewelry.

Elliott's on Linden catered the event with different stations for a tapas dinner including sushi, prime rib and Italian cuisine. Greg Quiroga, from the San Francisco-based Reynolds and Buckley, served as the auctioneer for the evening.

The O'Neal School is a college preparatory, independent day school serving students from pre-kindergarten ages 3 through 12th grade. The school is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Contact Alice Droppers, director of admissions, at (910) 692-6920 extension 103 for more information or go to the website www.OnealSchool.org.