Last year, the annual Discovery Auction fundraiser for Austin Catholic Schools raised $114,000.

What will happen Saturday night, April 25, when the 17th annual Discovery Auction is held?

Alicia Arrizola, auction director, hopes this year’s fundraiser will do as well or better.

The auction opens at 4:30 p.m. April 25 at the Corcoran Center on the campus of St. Edward’s Catholic Church in west Austin.

“Being such a small school, we relay on parishioners and alumni to make the school what it is today,” Arrizola said. “It’s really important for people to take the time and get involved.”

And the annual Discovery Auction is one of the most important ways to get involved in Austin Catholic Schools.

Arrizola is pulling out all stops to publicize the April 25 fundraiser.

That’s her on the phone.

That’s her conferring with development director Norm Blaser.

That’s her doing interviews.

That’s her convincing Fox 47 television executives to give the Discovery Auction a 15-second personal greeting commercial for a lucky bidder at the auction.

That’s her posing with a poster of Pope Benedict XVI. “The Holy Father wants you to attend the 2009 Discovery Auction” the poster proclaims.

The auction volunteers started work on the 2000 fundraiser last December, writing letters to donors and sponsors.

The pace quickens in January, accelerates even more in February and when March and April arrive, the volunteers and the auction director are working, Arrizola said, “overtime.”

The fruits of their labors will be on display Saturday, April 25.

There will be valet parking for guests and a coat check at the door.

Fine wines, spirits, coffee and bruschetta will be served the early arrivals.

Dinner will be served 6 p.m.

The theme is “Una bella note Italiana.”

It means “A beautiful Italian night.”

“We’re going to use a decor that resembles a rural Tuscany setting,” Arrizola said.

Perennial auction decorators, Jim and Joan Hayden, will once again weave their magic to transform the Corcoran Center hall into something resembling Italy.

Mike Lammers, who is in charge of the menu, will do his best to add to that feeling.

The menu will include anti pasto insalata, petto do pollo parmagiano, salisicce pepperoni de formo.

Tiramasu, Italian cake with lady fingers and layered with espresso with eggs is the dessert.

A silent auction featuring 300 items also starts when doors open 4:30 p.m. April 25.

There will be a welcome from the auction director at 5:45 p.m. prior to the dinner.

Four of a Kind, a quartet of Pacelli High School’s top vocalists, will entertain during the meal. The night before the fundraiser, the Discovery Auction organizers will host a preview night, 5-7 p.m. April 24 at the Corcoran Center.

Donors and people who have purchased $50 tickets for the Saturday night events will be admitted free to the Preview Night prelude. All others must pay $10 each.

Free wine and appetizers will be served at Preview Night.

But the Saturday night activities are what everyone is talking about; especially the PHS teens who will be parking cards and starring in a new video.

What Catholic

education is all about

The short film prepared by the PHS journalism class will also be shown Saturday night.

“They’re taking photographs and adding commentaries from both the elementary and the high school and it will tell what the school is about,” Arrizola said. “I think that’s a great way for them to use their skills.”

Seating will be limited to a maximum of 350 guests.

Fifty-dollar tickets are a bargain, according to Arrizola. “That will include admission to Preview Night, plus Saturday night’s dinner and auction, their catalog, drink tickets and more,” she said.

Raffles are another favorite feature of the evening. A shopping spree at Hy-Vee in Austin, Sony BlueRay DVD player, $1,000 cash prize, plus two $100 prizes are among the raffle prizes.

The raffle tickets are being sold at HyVee Food Store and the auction office at PHS in advance for $10 each. The drawings will be held throughout the evening auction night.

The deadline for purchasing raffle tickets is April 24.

There will also be games played throughout the evening, including Heads and Tails, the Key Club and the Mystery Purse game.

Fladeboe Auctioneers, who specialize in charity auctions, will exhort the audience-members to spend, spend, spend on Catholic education.

According to Arrizola, when the live auction begins 7:45 p.m. — an earlier-than-usual starting time, bidders will have several “exciting possibilities.”

For instance, a 2-couples’ night’s stay for a couple at a castle, where they will enjoy a murder-mystery evening with a 6-course meal.

There will be tickets to the 2009 PGA Championship Golf Tournament at Hazletine in Chaska.

Dinner with new Winona Diocese Bishop John Quinn is another top auction item. Six people will dine with the bishop at Michael’s in Rochester.

Arrizola will model a $17,000 bracelet from Fisher’s Jewelers of Albert Lea.

“They have provided us with so much jewelry to choose from,” she said. “Diamond watches, cuff links and money clips and more. Necklaces, diamond earrings and other jewelry items, too.”

Once again, Hormel Foods Corporation has donated a gold Spanish coin, which is always a popular item for bidders.

“We have everything from puppy poop-scooping to a New Orleans vacation,” Arrizola said. “I’m proud to say that I have worked hard to provide such a variety of auction items. It’s been so much fun.”

The last live auction section closes 10:50 p.m., according to Arrizola, who said the organizers are working hard to keep the events moving along to a successful conclusion without running into over time.

That includes limiting the live auction to only 70 items.

“Donations have not been a problem” Arrizola said, alluding to the depressed economy and belt-tightening in the business sector. “We’re just trying to make the auction more convenient for the guests.”

Sharon Rieker and Tara Anderson are co-chairs. Arrizola praised Rieker and Anderson and all the volunteers.

“Everyone has been so wonderful and helpful,” she said. “I appreciate all their efforts. We’re all working for the right cause: Our Catholic schools.”

Arrizola also expressed the Discovery Auction committee’s appreciation to Hormel Foods Corporation and HyVee Food Store of Austin for their generous support.

For more information, go online to www.pacellionline.net or call Arrizola at the Austin Catholic Schools development office, 437-8900.