✨Ignite the Night Auction Party on March 21 followed by the Online Auction March 24-27! ✨
Step into the magic of the desert for Ignite the Night, MPAEF’s 2026 Auction Party at Hillview Middle School on March 21, 2026. Under glowing lights and a sky full of possibility, we’ll come together for a shared purpose that unites us all: ensuring our students receive an exceptional educational experience. Bid on unforgettable parties and one-of-a-kind experiences, and enjoy signature cocktails and a dance floor that keeps the night glowing! This will be an evening of connection, celebration, and generosity — all in support of our local schools.
Ticket sales for the upcoming Ignite the Night Auction Party is now closed. We look forward to seeing you on March 21st!
Looking for ideas for what to wear to Ignite the Night? Check out our Inspiration Board, and let your creativity shine—literally! Step into a world where festival freespiritedness meets desert chic. Think flowing dresses, layered outfits, fringe jackets, denim shorts, cowboy or combat boots, statement hats, headpieces, bold accessories, festival braids, hair & face glitter, and jewels.
MPAEF Online Auction: March 24–27. Our online auction is just a few days after the auction party and is open to everyone! The online auction features favorite items open for bidding including teacher parties, kid parties, summer camps, travel/sports experiences and more!
Questions? If you have any questions about the upcoming event, please email events@mpaef.org.
🎉Silent & Live Auction Items - Viewable Online! 🎉
Thanks to all the generous donations of parties, tickets, vacation homes and so much more from our generous parent and business community! All Live and Silent Auction items that will be avaialbe for bidding at the March 21st event are now available for viewing online.
CLICK HERE to view this year’s Live and Silent Auction items
The MPAEF Auction Team will be adding the many Online Auction items to this catalog over the next week and will be viewable online Monday, March 16.
If you have any questions about donated items/parties or auction items/donations, please email events@mpaef.org.
✨Fund-a-Need 2026: Student Physical Health & Well-Being ✨
Each year during the auction, MPAEF works closely with MPCSD leadership to identify a one-time need that the community can come together to support. Funds are raised for this initiative through a paddle-rase at the auction event and online through the online auction. The 2026 Fund-a-Need is to support Student Physical Health & Well Being inititaives and supplies and the goal is to raise $100,000.
MPCSD’s vision to educate and empower students while embracing childhood and adolescence includes access to high-quality, engaging physical health and well-being activities throughout their TK–8th grade journey. Research shows that physical activity primes the brain for math, reading, and problem-solving. Our community has the opportunity to support MPCSD’s investment in tools and programming that focus on all aspects of physical health and well-being: from recess and P.E. supplies that provide the "cognitive reset" needed to learn, to diagnostic tools for our nursing staff to provide immediate, accurate care. The goal is for all students to be confident, active, healthy, energized, and thriving at school and beyond.
CLICK HERE to read more details about the 2026 Fund-a-Need: Student Physical Health & Well Being.
Ready to donate to this year’s fund-a-need? You’ll get a chance at the March 21 Auction Party and the Online Auction from March 23-27.
MPAEF Auction 2025 Fund-a-Need Update: At the March 2025 Auction Event last year, the Menlo Park-Atherton community raised $159,373 to fund “Students as Mathematicians” supplies and experiences across MPCSD during the 2025-2026 school year. MPAEF is excited to share an update on how these funds have been allocated so far during the school year: CLICK HERE to learn more.
MPAEF Auction 2026 Rules & Guidelines: CLICK HERE
The document linked above is where you will find information on how to place a bid, winning bidder notifications, auction item sales terms, refunds, and how to pick up auction items you have won. Please take a moment to review before this year's auction.
Click here to go to the IRS website to read Rules on Tax Deduction of Charitable Auctions. In a nutshell, if you pay more than the fair market value of an item, the difference may be tax deductible. Few of our auction items end up being eligible for tax deduction.
