AANO New York Student Summit
The fine print
How check-in, payments, the auction, refunds, and responsibility worked at the summit.
The event
The AANO New York Student Summit is free to attend. It runs Sunday, October 4, 2026, from noon to six, in The Great Hall at Fordham University's Joseph M. McShane Campus Center, Rose Hill, 2691 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458. It is co-hosted by AANO New York — the New York chapter of the Albanian American National Organization (AANO) — and the Fordham Albanian Student Association. There is nothing to buy to take part.
How this is funded, and who benefits
The summit is free for students, but it costs money to run: food, coffee, the room, and filming the day. Two things cover that. Companies and local businesses sponsor the event, and there is a silent auction on the day. Sponsors are listed in the program every attendee gets. Sponsor money and auction proceeds cover the day's costs first; whatever is left over becomes the Next Generation Scholarship, which AANO awards to an Albanian-American student about a month after the event. Nobody running the summit takes a cut. The speakers are volunteers, and several auction prizes are donated outright.
What we collect when you check in
Checking in records your name, your phone number, and whether you're a student or professional. AANO holds this information; an independent technology provider operates the check-in, auction, and scholarship software on AANO's behalf. It is used to run the day and to reach you about the summit. It is not sold.
How the auction works
Each bid is a binding commitment to buy that lot at that price if you hold the winning bid when it closes. Bids rise by set increments shown on each lot, and the highest valid bid at close wins; if two bids match, the earliest one placed wins. A bid placed in the final two minutes extends that lot's closing time, so a last-second bid can't shut you out. Some lots carry a reserve; if the top bid doesn't meet it, the organizers may release the lot to the highest bidder at the settlement desk, or leave it unsold. All auction sales are final.
If a charge doesn't go through
If your card is declined or expired, or your bank asks for extra verification after you have left the event, the automatic charge may not complete. The organizers will try to reach you, or you can settle at the desk during the event by cash, check, or card. The lot remains yours as the winning bidder unless you and the organizers agree otherwise; the organizers may, at their discretion, offer an unpaid lot to the next-highest bidder. Whether a card is approved, declined, or delayed is decided by your bank and card network, not by the organizers or the software.
Fair market value and tax deductibility
Each lot lists a fair market value. Under U.S. tax rules, only the amount you pay above a lot's fair market value can be deductible as a charitable contribution, not the whole winning bid. For any winning bid over $75, your receipt states the lot's fair market value and the portion that may be deductible. AANO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 90-0541983), so the amount above fair market value can qualify as a charitable contribution; whether you can claim it still depends on your own taxes, so keep your receipt and check with your tax advisor.
Refunds
The event is free, so there is nothing to refund for entry. Auction wins support the scholarship fund and are final — no refunds or exchanges. If your card is charged in error or twice, contact the organizers and it will be corrected.
Payment security
Card payments are handled by Stripe, a certified payment processor. You enter your card directly with Stripe, so no one running the summit sees or stores your card number. The charge on your statement will show AANO's name with an “AUCTION” note.
Who runs the event, and who is responsible
AANO is the organizer of the summit, the recipient of all sponsor and auction funds, and the merchant of record for every payment taken at the event. AANO is solely responsible for the event, the auction, the handling of funds, and how attendee information is used. The check-in, auction, payment, and scholarship software is provided to AANO by an independent technology provider as a contribution, on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the technology provider is not responsible for the conduct of the event, for any decision of a bank or card network to approve, decline, delay, or reverse a charge, or for any loss, interruption, or damages arising from use of the software or participation in the auction. Any question about a charge, a bid, or the event is resolved with AANO.
Photos at the event
Photos and video may be taken at the summit and used by AANO to share what happened. If you'd rather not appear, tell someone at the check-in desk.
Students under 18
If you're under 18, check in with a parent or guardian.
Questions about any of this? Tell the organizers.