NEWS BRIEFS
Sept. 3, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
Notre Dame Prep. gala to celebrate excellence
SCOTTSDALE — Cuisine from a spectrum of the Valley’s finest restaurants, wine tasting, dancing under the stars, and the raffle of a 2010 Mercedes-Benz are expected to draw 800 guests to Notre Dame Preparatory on Oct. 3 for “Visions 2009: A Taste of Excellence.” The festivities will celebrate the Catholic school’s achievement as a nationally ranked college preparatory high school by recognizing the support it receives from students, parents and the community at large.
Sally Cashman, a local real estate representative with Sonoran Desert Lifestyles, is chairing the fifth annual event for the second consecutive year. She credits Honorary Chairs Michael DeMaria of Heirloom at D.C. Ranch and Brandon Maxwell of M Catering by Michael’s for assembling an impressive roster of Valley chefs who will prepare tastings of their specialties for guests to enjoy.
Notre Dame’s transformation into an elegant outdoor nightclub will feature dancing to music performed by popular local jazz band Azz Izz and fine wines donated by Sportsman’s Fine Wines & Spirits.
A high point of the evening will be a drawing for the grand raffle prize of a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport Sedan. Cash prizes of $2,500 and $1,000 will be the first and second prizes. Mark and Amanda Bosco of Great American Title and Tiffany Bosco, Ltd. are responsible for the donation of the luxury sedan from Schumacher Mercedes-Benz in Scottsdale.
Carolyn Rock, Notre Dame’s director of development, said, “The Boscos’ gift of a Mercedes to the gala’s raffle for a second consecutive year reflects their belief that Notre Dame provides an outstanding academic experience that attracts students from across the Valley, including Fountain Hills, Anthem, Mesa and Glendale. The proceeds of the raffle will go the Notre Dame Preparatory Financial Aid Fund for deserving students who need support.”
The event and the raffle tickets are open to the public. For tickets to the gala or raffle tickets, call (480) 634-8227. Raffle tickets are $50 each or three for $100; event tickets are $75. The school is located at 9701 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale.
Youth invited to join Arizona Teens for Life
Teenagers committed to building a culture of life have a new group to join. Arizona Teens for Life will hold its kick-off event at 6:30-11 p.m., Sept. 5, at Sunsplash Water Park in Mesa.
The group was founded to give pro-life teens a way to connect with each other for social activities and service opportunities in the effort to fight abortion.
Mary Patterson, founder, is hoping for a large turnout for the event.
“I started this group so that all pro-life teens could connect with each other and become a more unified voice in the fight against abortion,” Patterson said.
For more information on Arizona Teens for Life, visit the Web at AZteens4life.org or call (480) 277-6063.
— Joyce Coronel
Vincentian receives top award
FLAGSTAFF — Some 125 people turned out to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s San Francisco de Asís Conference last month.
The gathering also served as an annual social for all seven conferences in the district and as a time to honor Barbara Packard, thrift shop manager, with the highest honor a Vincentian can receive: the Top Hat Award.
It’s named in honor of Frederic Ozanam, who founded St. Vincent de Paul and was well-known for his top hat.
“On a day-to-day basis her work represents a splendid combination of competence, caring and compassion,” said Joseph Riley, president of Phoenix’s St. Vincent de Paul board.
Packard has been managing the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Flagstaff for nearly 10 years.
“With God as our focus we simply all worked together to serve His poor and to assist them to reach their goals,” Packard said. She noted that reorganization, remodeling and expansion of the original facility plus the recent addition of adequate warehouse space greatly aided its outreach.
— Catherine E. Hanley
