Though the 2025 Colorado Academy Auction on Saturday, May 3, will, as always, raise critical funding to bolster the school’s slated $5.5-million financial aid budget for 2025-2026, the theme of the event—“Derby Day”—is a hint that this year, the biennial Auction is about more than raising money.
Scheduled for the same Saturday as the 2025 Kentucky Derby, known as “the greatest two minutes in sports,” the CA Auction draws on everything that people love about the world-famous horse race, where dressing up and celebrating are as important as the competition itself.
| Individual tickets for Derby Day are now on sale for $150 (early-bird pricing lasts until April 8), and Patron packages are available for those who want additional benefits, including access to the Patron Party sponsored by ANB Bank. Financial assistance for tickets will be available to families who are currently receiving tuition assistance. Special thanks to Aurum Home Technology for sponsoring Derby Day 2025. |
According to Co-Chair Jess Sigala, “The headline may be the Auction, but we want attendees to know that this event is also about building community: There’s a Pre-Party (sponsored by the Martin Family) featuring mingling, mint juleps, and a spread of Southern-inspired bites; a festive After-Party with one of Denver’s finest bluegrass bands, Second Gear Bluegrass (sponsored by Matter Family Office); and so much more. Just by coming together to enjoy this event, we are all showing our support for the school’s mission.”
To ensure this year’s event includes broader participation from across the CA community, Sigala and Co-Chair Caity Barton created a new Community Outreach Committee with the explicit goal of encouraging more people to attend Derby Day. Their outreach emphasizes that Derby Day is an all-community event, and they are working to ensure a fun and inviting experience for new Auction attendees and families new to the school. The Committee includes representatives from each division as well as new CA families.
The social centerpiece of this year’s Auction, notes Sigala, is a direct outgrowth of the Outreach Committee’s work. “The Paddock” is a gathering spot where parents and guardians, alumni, and parents of alumni can reconnect with old friends or meet new ones, no matter whether their student is in Pre-K or they’re a recent graduate. “Derby Day Committee members will be on hand to welcome guests, and everyone will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a YETI cooler,” she says.
Adds Barton, “The community at CA is a huge part of why people want to be here—it’s what makes this school special. So The Paddock and everything else that’s part of Derby Day are really aimed at making sure that everyone feels included and can enjoy each other’s company.”
But getting to the Derby Day finish line takes a huge amount of preparation from all corners of the CA community, Barton says. “Fortunately, we have every grade at the school represented on the 50-member-strong event committee, and nearly half of those have never been part of a CA Auction or Concert committee. It’s been wonderful to work with such a large group of parents and guardians, some with 15 years of experience on CA event committees and others with fresh eyes and great new ideas, including eight Committee members who are new to CA this year,” she says.
Indeed, the idea for a dedicated meet-and-greet space, The Paddock, came from some of these new contributors, who emphasized during Committee meetings that walking into a large school event for the first time can be intimidating. “We realized that establishing a meeting point where you can find other parents and guardians from your child’s grade or meet Committee members could help everyone feel a connection,” explains Sigala.
The organizers hope that another new addition for this year’s event, “Buy-a-Share” auction items, will also help build community. Individuals can purchase one or two spots to attend special events and other opportunities donated by CA families and friends—bourbon tasting and flower arranging are just two of the options. Buy-a-Share items, Barton notes, mean that “You get to meet people you haven’t met or spend time with people that you don’t normally spend time with at special occasions throughout the year.”
An online-only Silent Auction, held during the week prior to the May 3 Derby Day event, will be open to everyone, not just those attending the event. It will feature items at a variety of price points, including teacher experiences, sports and outdoor packages, cuisine and wine, and unique opportunities for groups.
Additionally, the CA Derby Day Drawing offers an opportunity for a no-purchase-necessary chance to win great prizes, including early sign-up for parent/teacher conferences, a Dae Gee Korean BBQ basket, a $50 gift certificate to Where the Sidewalk Ends Toy Shop, and a Kentucky Derby-themed basket.
Ultimately, emphasize the 2025 Auction Co-Chairs, the hope this year is that CA community members will not only experience a wonderful event, but also remain more connected after Derby Day. “Afterwards, we really want people to feel that they’re more a part of the close-knit CA community, and to spend more time together at school events, outside of school, or wherever,” says Barton.
Adds Sigala, “We would love it if the CA Auction could become something you just attend every time, because you get to see your friends and make new ones. My favorite thing is creating buzz around an event like this. Our end goal is not just how many people come to Derby Day; it’s how many people talk about it and want to come back.”
With a Southern twang on top of an already exciting evening—which will feature a Live Auction and paddle-raise as well as a special Impact Video sponsored by Hirtle Callaghan and VRCC—Derby Day is sure to set the stage for many successful events to come, ensuring that a CA education remains accessible year after year. The school’s financial aid budget also benefits from The CA Fund, endowment returns, and a percentage of tuition.
CA is exceedingly grateful to the hardworking Derby Day Committee, whose members include: Jenny Baker-Strasburg, Kelly Ballenger, Alexandra Band, Janelle Blessing, Stephanie Cramer, Joy Detra, Polly Edelmann, Jocelyn Ege, Julia Völkel Emerson ’94, Lyndsey Farncombe, Willa Fawer, Kim Fossel, Andi Freyer, Alison Gile, Erin Gleaton, Kelly Haley, Mackenzie Hamilton, Kira Healey, Tanya Hicks, Vanessa Homuth, Brooke Howald, Kati Johns, Ann Jordan, Jill Koch, Whitney Ladd, Julianne Maron, Cat McEachern, Leigh McMahon, Jennifer Miller, Amy Mohraz, Kim Montgomery, Liz Buckingham Oertel ’93, Healy Parks, Margit Patterson, Jill Boat Rakowski ’92, Natalie Newcom Ralston ’99, Ann Benson Reidy ’88, Kellie Slater Reiland ’06, Andrea Rettig, Melinda Robinson, Greer Ryan, Kedzie Schoenwetter ’06, Elana Schwartzreich, Maggie Shapiro, Adrian Simon, Amy Smith, Shelby Stern, Amy Stettner, Laura Whalen, and Marie White.
For more information about Derby Day, contact Nevare Desnoyers (CA Events Manager) – 303-914-2509.