FAQs

Red Ball is the Ainsworth Foundation’s biggest fundraising and community building event of the year. We’ll spend the evening at the Portland Art Museum for a sit-down dinner, hosted bar and dessert. You’ll also have exclusive access to our silent and live auction as well as the coveted classroom art projects and so much more!

The Ainsworth Foundation, a parent-based volunteer group, is charged solely with fundraising to help close our staffing gaps. For 2024-2025, the Foundation is being asked to raise funds to maintain two FULL-TIME Educational Assistants and contribute toward two FULL-TIME Counselors. Additionally, we are helping to close the gap to provide FULL-TIME Art AND Music to the students. Art and Music are currently on a rotating basis every quarter, but with this additional funding, we will have the wonderful opportunity to provide our students with Music and Art EVERY week. If the Ainsworth Foundation does not meet our fundraising goals, we will see a direct impact on our school’s future staffing. Your attendance and participation at Red Ball help us meet our fundraising needs.

67% of the funds raised through the Foundation’s efforts are used toward bridging the gap in staff funding for Ainsworth. The remaining 33% is distributed throughout PPS to help other schools in need. We feel fortunate to not only better Ainsworth with our fundraising, but to also support our fellow PPS community.

No, ticket sales close on Friday, March 22nd. To purchase your tickets, please go to THE RED BALL AUCTION SITE

Yes! Please plan to come promptly at 6pm. The bidding for in-person silent items (including class art), and sign-ups for community parties will close at 7:30pm, so there will be a limited time to win those items.

Only Red Ball attendees will be able to buy wine keys, bid on live auction packages, a handful of select silent items, and children’s classroom art. Priority sign-ups for community parties will also only be available at the Red Ball.

Yes, we wanted to provide the opportunity for anyone interested in supporting Ainsworth to be able to participate. The online auction will open on April 1st and will be open to the public, so tell your friends, family and loved ones to save this link:SCHOOL AUCTION

We will be serving a full sit-down dinner and dessert this year. In addition, we will offer a hosted bar.

Yes! This year we have included VIP tables for purchase. VIP tables seat 10 attendees of your choice and include exclusive perks such as prime location with reserved seating for the live auction, drink service during the live auction while the rest of the event will not be able to access the bar and a few more surprises we’re saving for the night of Red Ball! Purchase your VIP table today before they sell out!

Cocktail attire. We realize that might mean different things to different people and that is ok!

To stay informed about Red Ball please be sure to subscribe to our Instagram account @ainsworthfoundation_pdx. We also share updates weekly in the Ainsworth News & Notes newsletter as well as occasional Ainsworth distributed text messages. Ensure you are opted in for all of these communication avenues so you don’t miss any important updates!

No, anyone who wants to support our community is welcome to purchase a ticket.

We will send out a link ahead of the event for you to check-in online and vault your credit card. If that is done in advance, all you will have to do at check-in is pick up your bidding paddle!

There is street parking or a Smart Park on SW 10th between Yamhill & Morrison. Always great to catch an Uber, Lyft or carpool.

Yes! We need help at check-in/check-out, will call, set up and shut down. Please email Linda Vickers at Lmhaug00@yahoo.com if interested.

We will be selling ‘wine keys’ the night of the Red Ball; you can purchase as many as you want for a chance at buying the winning key which unlocks the wine cellar collection. This wine collection is expected to be at least 4 cases of quality wine of various price points, labels and varietals.