The Haldane School Foundation will hold its annual winter fundraiser, the Crystal Ball, this Saturday, March 19, from 7:30pm to 11:30pm at the Dutchess Manor in Beacon.

Event attendees will enjoy a night of food, cocktails, music and fortune telling as well as raffles for a new iPad 2 and Flip camera, but the highlight of the evening is sure to be the live auction featuring unique items including a guitar signed and donated by Sheryl Crow, a singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who has won nine Grammy Awards, to benefit the students of Haldane.

The guitar, a Fender Telecaster, is a solid-body electric guitar featuring a maple neck and fretboard, lightly used by Sheryl Crow and featuring her hand-signed autograph on the body. Ms. Crow’s management has included a letter of authenticity verifying her signature as genuine.

There are many other wonderful items up for bid including weekend getaways, Broadway tickets and hotel stay in New York City, or a September beach weekend on the Jersey Shore.

Sports enthusiasts may bid on Yankees/Royals tickets with a gift certificate to the New York Yankees Steak restaurant or golf for four at The Garrison Golf Club, while those who appreciate a fine meal may want to bid on either the Cold Spring Dinner Crawl for four or the Indian Dinner Party for four.

Families looking for activities to keep their kids busy this summer may want to raise their auction paddles for the 2011 season pass to Splashdown Waterpark packaged with a $50 gift certificate to Frozenberry, and more.

Fans of Hudson Valley farms might be interested in either a CSA share at Common

Ground Farm for the 2011 season, or a selection of pasture-raised meats from Glynwood Farm.

Not everything at the fundraiser will be auctioned off. Jaymark Jewelers donated sterling silver and Swarovski “crystal ball” necklaces ($40) and earrings ($25), which will be for sale at the event with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit the Haldane School Foundation.

“Thanks to the generous donations from local businesses and friends of the Haldane School Foundation, we are confident the Crystal Ball will be a successful fundraiser for the school,” said Jennifer Marrinan, Haldane School Foundation Vice President.

The Haldane School Foundation is a community-based nonprofit organization, registered with New York State as a 501(c)(3), that raises funds to help enrich the curriculum and support staff development at Haldane Central School District.

Last year the Foundation donated nearly $55,000 in enrichment grants for several school programs.

Crystal Ball tickets, $125pp, are still available at haldaneschoolfoundation.org or by contacting Diane Hughes at diane@haldaneschoolfoundation.org or 265-5569.