What is Maury at the Market (M@M)?
M@M is Maury Elementary School’s biggest fundraiser. It is an evening gala event for adults only, held each year in the North Hall at Eastern Market. You can expect food, drinks, music, dancing, games, and even a live auction. This year it will take place from 7pm-10pm on March 9, 2024.
Why is M@M so important?
Maury’s budget from DC Public Schools does not cover all of the expenses of educating our 500+ kids. The money raised from M@M pays for teacher aide salaries, supplies and other things necessary to help give our kids the best education possible.
The PTA pays the salary of more than 5 classroom aides who provide needed support to students and teachers. These salaries are 75% of the PTA’s annual budget. The PTA spends over $275 per student per year, giving us an annual PTA fundraising goal of $155,000. Maury at the Market is by far the largest fundraising event of the year, contributing over $100,000 each year to the PTA fund.
Your contribution directly impacts our students' quality of education. Every donation puts us one step closer to our goal.
Who should participate and attend?
Parents, donors, sponsors, and the community are all welcome to attend.
What to expect at M@M?
There will be a DJ playing music, drinks, food, and fun. You will have a chance to say hi to people you know and meet some new ones.
Is there a dress code?
No. Some people have called this “parents prom”, but you do you! Dress will range from business casual to cocktail.
What about the kids?
Maury at the Market is an adults-only event for parents, teachers, and community members. Polite Piggies provides babysitting each year for kids to enjoy their own Pajama Party. The babysitting event takes place at school. The cost is approximately $50 per child, and is available to all current Maury students whose parents are attending M@M on a first-come first-served basis. Please note that Polite Piggies babysitting does sell out. Information about sign up will be sent out to the Maury community when it is available.
How can you help?
1) Purchase tickets and attend!
This party is for adults only. There will be a babysitting option through Polite Piggy’s which will be hosted at the school. Buy Tickets!
2) Donate items.
Think about your hobbies, interests, and connections and submit a donation! Previous examples and ideas include:
- Work at a restaurant? Get the restaurant to donate a gift certificate.
- Love to knit? Donate a made or made-to-order sweater.
- Bake & Cook? Donate a food item/meal to be made in the future.
- Have a guitar lying around un-used? Donate it and your time for lessons.
- Love Pokemon? Teach a family the ins and outs of the cards.
3) Donate a Maury Experience.
These are events and parties that you organize and parents and families bid to join. Some are for the entire family, some just for the kids, and some just for the grownups. These events are usually ticketed; one ticket per attendee. Donate a Maury Experience.
Previous examples:
- July 4th Party on a Rooftop
- Pizza Making Party
- Wine Bus
- Henna Painting Party at Lincoln Park
- Kindergarten Tea Party
4) If you are a Maury Teacher, donate a Teacher Experience.
These are events and parties that Maury teachers and staff create. Past examples include craft and art-making sessions, snack-making parties, trips to get ice cream or a walk to a Smithsonian Museum. The Teacher Experiences volunteer will email all teachers and staff more information directly.
Raffle tickets will be sold during the online auction for teacher experiences. It will be clearly stated in the event description whether each spot is a ticket, or if the “winner” gets to pick a friend to join.
5) Bid!
Online bidding for the silent auction will start a week before the event. There will be donations from the community, Maury families, individual Maury classrooms, and the Maury teachers and staff. Bidding will end an hour into the event on March 9th. The link for the auction will be sent out to our school list serve, emailed to our supporters and added to our social media posts.
6) Follow our social media posts and spread the word!
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and this Website.
Thanks! We look forward to seeing you at Maury at the Market.
