Each year, the Lawrence Catholic School Benefit Auction produces everything from deluxe trips abroad to prime seats at Jayhawk basketball games.

The auction’s reputation for offering unusual or extraordinary goods will remain intact when 400 Catholic school supporters gather Nov. 22 at the Lawrence Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, for the 20th annual auction.

Among the choice items that participants can browse in the event’s silent and live auctions are: a 43-inch Pioneer plasma TV worth about $8,000; authentic jerseys and footballs signed by Kansas City Chiefs stars Priest Holmes and Trent Green; and a four-day luxury trip for two to Napa Valley wine country, complete with accommodations in a private cottage.

Other items available are: a children’s Cape Cod-style playhouse with working lights, a hardwood floor and a loft, valued at about $5,000; tickets to a package of three Jayhawks men’s basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse; and basketballs signed by coach Bill Self and his players.

Though the items up for bid usually steal the show at the black-tie optional event, which features a sit-down, five-course meal, that’s not what the evening’s all about.

“We have parents, we have teachers and we have alumni, and they all believe in education, our school and the kids. That’s really the soul of this event — pulling that whole community together,” said Karl Watson, benefit auction chairman.

“This is just an elegant, formal atmosphere where people are having fun and supporting a great cause.”

The money raised by the event — last year’s auction netted about $136,000 — goes to support the operation of Lawrence Catholic School.

Nearly 400 students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the school, which has campuses at each of the city’s two parishes: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Ky., and Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 W. 15th St.

Karl Watson, left, and Christina Diedel display Kansas City Chiefs memorablia and a basketball autographed by Kansas University's basketball team. The items wil be available at the Lawrence Catholic School Benefit Auction Nov. 22 at the Lawrence Holidome.

Proceeds from the event, to which reservations cost $100 per person, represent about 10 percent of Lawrence Catholic School’s annual operating budget, Watson said.

“We put a portion of the money into our endowment — that’s for ensuring the future. Then we use a larger portion in the next year’s budget. That pays for everything from textbooks to paper to teacher salaries,” said Pat Newton, principal of Lawrence Catholic School.

Newton, a school employee for almost 30 years, is a big fan of the benefit auction.

“You go in, and you see these incredible gifts. You see all these people, and they’re dressed up and look so beautiful. And then they’re paying amazing amounts of money for these items,” she said.

“But I know it’s not magical. It’s a yearlong process of getting ready for this.”

Aside from the live and silent auctions, the event features a drawing. Each ticket costs $20, and the winner may choose either half of the pot, or the plasma TV. Last year’s drawing raised about $21,000, Watson said.

The day before the benefit auction, an annual Family Night will be at the Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive.

There is no admission fee to participate, and the event features games, crafts and both live and silent auctions.

It’s a good way to support Lawrence Catholic School without having to pay the $100 fee to attend the following night’s benefit auction, Watson said.

The auctions at this year’s Family Night will include items such as the basketball jerseys of six former Jayhawks who play in the NBA, and a single, yellow feather plucked from Big Bird of “Sesame Street” fame.