Amid cheers and raised maracas the parents and staff of the Mount  Vernon Presbyterian Church Preschool of Alexandria raised $18,000 at their 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta & Silent Auction a 20  percent increase from last year.  
 
Held on May 2 at the historic George Washington Masonic Memorial, the event was a lively mix of food, fun, and frenetic bidding on auction items donated by area merchants and families.

Funds raised from the event will be used to spruce up the preschool playground, a project often referred to with a smile as Extreme  Makeover: Playground Edition.  Plans are to create a relaxing picnic area, refine the landscaping, upgrade the childrens garden, and add much-needed equipment to keep up with the nearly 100 energetic preschoolers.

The auction featured themed baskets created by class parents, with monikers such as Wheels, Wings & Whistles, Bored No More, and Moms Morning Out.  There was handmade jewelry, original art, boutique shopping parties, a boat trip to the Eastern Shore and gift certificates from an array of restaurants.  There was interior design, face painting, mountain getaways, and golfing at posh clubs. There was even premium seating at preschool events for those perpetually running late.

The event was sponsored by Baja Fresh, Diageo, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, the Poole/Braun Team of Long & Foster and Robin Arnold of McEnearney Associates. Additionally, the event was generously supported by Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurant, Foundations for Families, Only Bathrooms & Only Kitchens, LLC, and The Galeota Family.

The Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church Preschool is located on Sherwood Hall Lane.  “In just three years, the school has grown into one of Alexandrias most popular destinations for nurturing and educating children ages 2 1/2 to 5 in a safe and caring environment,” said spokesperson Elizabeth Shea.