RANCHO BERNARDO -- The days of school bake sales and car washes may be coming to an end.

The Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation, which raises money for academic, music, sports and other programs, is raising money this year with an online auction that begins Friday.

Foundation Chairman Paul McCaslin said the auction can reach more people than conventional fundraisers the group has done.

"Unlike a dinner event, when only the people in attendance can bid on an item, the great thing about an online auction is that people everywhere have the opportunity to bid, and we can bring in more funds for the school," McCaslin said.

Auction organizer Fredeline Engelbrecht said the auction could be even more successful than the spring golf tournament it's replacing. The tournament raised about $12,000 every year for the school's athletic teams.

"This will be wider," she said. "We feel we can reach the various teams and clubs easier with the auction."

The foundation has made it easy for people to make donations to the auction. People can donate items by going to RBHS.cmarket.com and clicking on the "donate an item" button. Engelbrecht said she posts the items on site after reviewing them, and bidders can browse through items now before the auction starts Friday. Bidding closes at 4 p.m. May 2.

As of Tuesday, the foundation's site listed 91 items.

Fredeline said foundation volunteer Kathy Hutchens, who suggested the auction as a fundraiser, told her another school had raised $100,000 from online bidders.

Besides money from auctioned items, the foundation will raise money by selling banner and ad space on the site for $100.

Engelbrecht said people who are donating items this week are being asked to bring them to Rancho Bernardo High School, where the donations will be stored.

Besides merchandise, donated items include services and events such as the May 9 Red Bull Races on San Diego Bay and a one-month membership to Danceology Studio. Other items include dental care, laser hair removal, massages, spa treatments, acne treatments, house-cleaning, tanning, car care, restaurant dinners, piano lessons and Velocity Sports Performance certificates.

Jewelry, clothing, furniture, sports memorabilia and many other items also have been donated to the auction.

The foundation also is offering a variety of "experiential" items for auction, such as preferred parking and preferred seating at graduation, according to a press release issued by the foundation.

Bids designated specifically for Rancho Bernardo High will go toward the 21st Century Classroom campaign to outfit classrooms with new technology such as projectors and screens.

Principal Paul Robinson said the auction will directly help students who otherwise would have to raise money to participate in certain campus activities.

"Each year our sports teams, the band, cheerleaders and almost every club and program on campus must raise funds for transportation, uniforms and more," Robinson said in a press release. "We know people are busy, so we wanted to try a new and creative way for people to get involved, purchase some neat items and raise money for the school."

To donate an item or become a sponsor, contact rbhsfoundation@gmail.com or call Engelbrecht at (858) 382-8566 or Bitsy Clayton at (858) 451-1515.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.