By Laura Marreel,

Pacelli Assistant Principal

Saturday, April 26, Pacelli supporters gathered for our annual dinner auction. Over 225 parents, alumni, staff, and friends helped Pacelli raise a record amount of funds through silent and live auction items, used for student scholarships, building and program improvements, and an exciting auditorium upgrade project.

Pacelli’s auction coordinators and their husbands, Christine and Mike Frederick and Robyn and Ryan Bickler, really work hard to make our annual auction an experience to remember. This year their theme was “A Night in Rome.” When guests arrived they received boarding passes for their flight, and were greeted by our Auction Co-Chairs, flight attendants Christine and Robyn. These ladies remained in character the entire night pushing beverage carts, offering Skymall Magazines, and making sure guests were comfortable. Students were a big part of our auction as well. From selling beads for our “Heads or Tails” games, logging purchases on Pacelli’s iPads, or serving dinner, we had an overwhelming number of student volunteers helping. Jim Hayden, long time Pacelli supporter, constructed pillars, giant scenes of Rome, and monuments, transforming the Corcoran Center to an old world Roman celebration. Each year Hayden sets the mood with his one of a kind art pieces.

A long time tradition of Pacelli’s Auction is the “Fund A Need.” Each year we choose one big “need” to focus on. This year’s Fund A Need is a three phase upgrade to Pacelli’s auditorium. We are in need of a complete electrical update, spotlights, house dimmers, sconce theater lighting, speakers, lapel microphones, stage curtains and skirts. Pacelli’s drama department is full of talent and the fastest growing activity, making this cause an easy choice. This quick 10 minute burst of generosity is awe-inspiring to witness. Within seven minutes, Pacelli had raised $54,000-just for our Fund-A-Need. With a few more pledges on the way, we are very excited to get started improving our auditorium. All improvements will be made by the start of the new school year, as our drama department will be preparing for a K-12 musical, Oliver. Oliver will be performed November 20-23. More information will be available in the fall.

Pacelli Administration would like to sincerely thank the Frederick and Bickler families for all of their hard work, dedication, long hours, and overall passion for this school. They put on an auction unlike any other around, easily the best event of the year. It is because of their selflessness that Pacelli is able to offer scholarships to students. Unknown to many, the demographics of Pacelli are very similar to the public schools with 42 percent on free and reduced lunch, so our auction is crucial to making Pacelli available for everyone that wants to be here.

We would also like to thank the many generous supporters that came out that night, and those that donated from afar. Your generosity is inspiring and will help us make a difference in so many ways.