Charity Gala 25-- A Major Success!
Friday November 30, 2007, Pensacola
Catholic Charities Pensacola hosted their 25th Annual Charity Gala, October 27, 2007, earning more than $140,000 to support those in need of their services. The evening included hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Live and silent auctions had party-go-ers filled with enthusiasm. Excitement peaked as the winner was announced for the 2007 Silver Corvette.
“Bonnie Holley, the corvette winner, a longtime member of St. Paul Parish, bought a ticket mostly to help out Catholic Charities.” The widow mother of three elected to take the cash prize option of $42,000. With her husband passing in 2003 of cancer, her three children on their own or in college, “she reaches out to help others by serves as a one-on-one support to other widows,” states Donna Potts, Pensacola Regional Director.
Pete Moore, whose Chevrolet dealership supplied the car for the raffle at cost, helped make it possible to exceed the agency’s $125,000 fundraising goal. Additional sponsors donated food and beverages for the evening, along with door prizes and silent and live auction items.
Mark Dufva, executive director of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, commented that this year’s gala was “wonderful.”
“Catholic Charities provided service to more than 26,000 clients last year throughout the diocese… Many times we’re the last chance agency standing between our clients and homelessness. The services we provide make such a difference in the community,” states Mark Dufva.