#LCMSD Strong Check out the video of teachers & staff!

Now more than ever, comedy brings us together during this unprecedented time.  No need to purchase tickets, get dressed up, or book a babysitter this year, but this fundraiser is still intended for adults only.  

Host and Comedian Corey Rosen will lead us through the evening’s entertainment with special appearances by local celebrities and District Parents, a Paddle Raise and a Live Auction.  Let’s show our community support for our schools – together. 

Zoom Link to join here

Join Zoom Webinar:  890-8416-7932  Password:  041146

Donate to Fund the Gap
FAQ
Live & Silent Auction
Pre-Show Cocktails

Corey Rosen

Corey Rosen hosts The Moth StorySlam and performs at BATS Improv in San Francisco.  Correction, Corey Rosen tells stories in his kitchen and improvises in his living room.  He looks forward to performing in a venue that is not his house one day.

Auctioneer Greg Quiroga

Greg Quiroga is the San Francisco/Bay Area’s premiere fundraising auctioneer, and has been conducting fundraising auctions for non-profit organizations all across the United States for over 16 years. He works with over 50 non-profits, schools, foundations, arts organizations and charities to help raise over $15 million a year.

Bray

Singer / Songwriter / Performer Bray Gurnari is the front man for original alt pop rock act Bray & the Dens, a lead singer for elite dance band Neon Velvet, and for leading yacht rock band Mustache Harbor.  In addition, he performs regularly as a solo acoustic artist, covering everything from Sinatra to Bieber. Described as the “hardest working front man in the Bay Area” by 107.7 The Bone’s DJ Chasta, Bray has toured in 12 countries, had songs on 5 national TV shows, and garnered more than 4 Million YouTube views.  His new album “Stingray” will be released everywhere on May 20. He is honored and excited to be a part of the SPARK Virtual Gala! braymusic.com

Scott Capurro

A living, thriving stand up comedian who keeps his marble in a jar. A large, glass jar.

Sarah Clark & John Lyman aka “Slappy”

Sarah is a morning DJ.  John remodels houses. They got together, broke up their band and formed Slappy which is now in its 31st year. They try avoid playing out at all costs, preferring the comfort and free alcohol available at their home. This gig is perfect for them as it meets all requirements.

Eliza and Brandon Desch

Married for 16 years and haven’t killed each other yet.  They are parents to Ivy (13) and Georgie (10), Frankie (Dog) and Fitz (Cat) and are growing matching quarantine mullets.

Niels Engberg

An ex-New Yorker that has strayed his way to Corte Madera as part of the Witness Relocation Program. He’s been married to Natalie for 12 years (she’s currently being considered for sainthood) and have two kids, Tigerlily (9) and Jakob (11), and two dogs, Milo and Bonz.
After moderately successful careers as both a bull fighter (miniature, not full-size) and a back up dancer for Wayne Newton, he now claims “tech” as his profession (along with the rest of the Bay Area).

Tom Herbst

A local dad who is not as good looking as his headshot.

Mark Hewlette

Husband to Jennifer, father of Max (12)& Moni (10) – family counselor, teaching assistant, pandemic expert, etc…

Andy Markham

#1 parent of Drew (5th) and James (3rd), who is enjoying this extended spring break with both kids.  “No, really, I’m enjoying it.  No, seriously.”

Andy Chun and Kevin Diedrich

Kevin Diedrich and District parent Andy Chun are partners at Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco.  For three consecutive years, Kevin has been named a finalist for Best American Bartender by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.  In 2019, Esquire magazine recognized P.C.H. as one of America’s Best Bars. For a preview of the cocktails and recipes click here.

Registration Information

If you purchased items during the Spring Online Auction in March 2020, you do not need to re-register. Have your login and password handy, so you can have access to the Paddle Raise and items in the auction on May 1-2.  

We recommend that you set up an account well in advance of the live event at 8pm on May 2nd.

STEP 1:  Visit the Ready Set Auction request an account web page here.

STEP 2:  Fill out the required fields and click request account.

STEP 3: Once you receive a confirmation email, you can log in here and set up a password.

STEP 4: Bookmark this page for easy access.

Frequently Asked Questions

DO I NEED TO BUY A TICKET TO ATTEND?
No, you do not need to buy a ticket to view the Virtual Spring Spotlight. Unlike the traditional SPARK Gala, this year’s live virtual event is free and everyone can attend!

HOW DO I WATCH?
Tune in from home on via Zoom on Saturday, May 2 at 8pm, or join early for the mixology pre-show with Andy Chun and Kevin Deidrich from Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco at 7:45pm. The event link will be emailed to LCMSD families. We recommend that you have two devices on hand-ideally a laptop or desktop and large monitor to watch and enjoy the show, and a smaller device such as smartphone, iPad, or even a second laptop to do your bidding and donating on! Zoom Link to join here Join Zoom Webinar:  890-8416-7932  Password:  041146

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN THE “PADDLE RAISE” PORTION OF THE LIVE PROGRAM?
Help SPARK raise $300,000 to directly meet it’s $1.5M year-end goal. During the paddle raise portion of our live event on May 2, you will have the opportunity to make a 100% tax-deductible gift at a level that is meaningful to you. To make a donation, you must be registered on the SPARK Ready Set Auction site. To register, click here.

WHAT IS THE “PADDLE RAISE” FOR?
This year’s Fund the Gap paddle raise is your opportunity to help SPARK meet its $1.5M goal for the year. All proceeds will go towards helping SPARK meet its commitment to the Larkspur Corte Madera School District which primarily is used to pay for teacher salaries and benefits.

HOW DO I BID ON AUCTION ITEMS?
Our online auction opens on Friday, May 1st at 9 am and closes on Saturday, May 2 at 8 pm. Our live auction will take place during the live broadcast on May 2, so you must be present to participate. To make bids in either auction, you must be registered on the SPARK Ready Set Auction site. To register, click here.

IS MY GIFT TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
SPARK is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and donations made in Paddle Raise are tax-deductible. For auction items, any amount you paid over the fair market value is tax-deductible. This information will be provided to you in a timely manner after the auction closes and all bids and gifts are finalized. As always, please consult your tax professional for further advice.

IS THE EVENT FAMILY FRIENDLY?
Like our in-person Spring Spotlight, this event is intended to be for adults only. Live comedy can be unpredictable so we recommend tucking your kids in early or setting them up with a good book or movie so that you can enjoy the show. We chose 8 pm as a start time to allow for those with younger children to have a moment to grab a favorite beverage and settle in to enjoy this special evening!