Second GIFT Gala celebrates St. Pat's 100th

With the assistance of Riley Werkmeister, the Rev. Bernard Kimminau of Curtis helps display a handmade quilt during the 2019 St. Patrick GIFT Gala. The quilt was one of hundreds of items donated by local businesses and individuals for the fund-raiser to benefit St. Patrick Elementary School.

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McCOOK, Neb. — Trying to duplicate success is never easy. But thanks to the tremendous support of the McCook St. Patrick Church parish and the entire McCook community, the second annual St. Patrick GIFT Gala surpassed the inaugural event.

With the final numbers in, the 2019 GIFT (Giving Investments For Tomorrow) Gala on March 16 raised more than $86,000, which will go toward St. Patrick Elementary School. The event sold out weeks in advance with 280 people in attendance.

The first GIFT Gala in 2018 raised more than $80,000 in one evening so expectations for the second GIFT Gala will high. The St. Patrick parish and the community stepped up when they were asked to “Join Us on the Red Carpet” for the 2019 GIFT Gala.

St. Patrick staff enjoys the 2019 GIFT Gala, including (from left) Spanish Teacher Pat Janssen, Principal Becky Redl, Kindergarten Teacher Lara Stewart and Kindergarten Aide Cindi Arterburn.

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The 2019 GIFT Gala was significant in that the 2018-2019 school year marks the 100th anniversary of St. Patrick Elementary. To mark the milestone, Bishop James Conley was the celebrant for the special afternoon Mass to kick off the GIFT Gala. The evening also included more than a dozen members of the religious community, thanks to the support from the Bargain Bazaar thrift shop and workers.

More than 100 businesses, individuals and organizations donated auction items, with more than 40 items sold during the live auction and another 112 items as part of the silent auction.

More impressively, more than 125 volunteers gave hours upon hours of their time during the six months leading up to the event as they planned and decorated for the evening; on the night of the GIFT Gala with a full dinner and auction; and in the days following with clean-up and finalizing the numbers. Showing up in force were members of the Knights of Columbus, who spent countless hours moving tables from the KC Hall, serving drinks at the bar and helping with set-up and tear-down.

Bishop James Conley (right, standing) chooses heads during the "Heads and Tales" game at the 2019 St. Pat GIFT Gala. Bishop Conley served as celebrant for the special GIFT Gala Mass.

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The evening was also made possible because of corporate sponsors including Bison Dental, Sehnert’s Bakery, Baker’s Acres, Cappel Sales, Farm Bureau Financial Services-Debbie Douglas, Janssen-Kool Honda, Jason and Wendy Timmerman and Connealy Angus, Norm and Sharon Timmerman and Southwest Nebraska Dental Center.

Plans are already underway for next year with the 2020 GIFT Gala planned for Saturday, March 21, 2020.