It wasn't yet St. Patrick's Day on March 14, but no problem. The Doubletree World Arena Hotel was filled with green shirts, green blinking lights, green beer, green hair and even a priest or two adding a touch of green as well.

The Catholic Charities gala has become an eight-year tradition and this year drew 400 people who helped raise some green - nearly $135,000 - for programs that include the new Marian House Soup Kitchen.

Although silent auction and Big Board items were going for low bids, the lively live auction led by Kevin Patterson pulled amounts over estimated value for trips and luxurious meals.

The money is especially needed this year, said Catholic Charities Executive Director Jason Christensen. For the past two years meals were served to 400-450 people, many of them families, each day. Now that has jumped to more than 700 daily and the meals to children have doubled. He saluted the volunteers whose work is valued at $2.8 million.

Celebrants, who included Bishop Michael Sheridan and Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifan, dined on a traditional Irish feast of corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, green beans and bacon and Irish Soda Bread. Topping it off was the traditional parade of flaming desserts through the ballroom and servings of Blueberry Bailey Torte.

There was laughter as Chuck Murphy pulled names for the $1,000 "Pot of Gold" raffle: first Roy Clennan, founder/president of Freedom Financial Services, who declined, and then ABC Bank president Mike Cafasso, who donated the money back to Catholic Charities.

Murphy, the event chairman, was assisted by his committee: Kirsten Casebolt, Betsy Finley, Sue Foerster, Jane Gorab, Janet Hutchinson, Michaele MacDougald, Jerry Petersen, Pam Petersen, Kelly Phelan, Ann Reich, Sarah Ross, Rochelle Blaschke Schlortt and Betsy Sobral.

Court care

Green was also the color of the day at the March 11 Court Care "Sharin' of the Green" celebration at Jack Quinn Irish Ale House and Pub.

Board president Jan Weiland shared with supporters that the program designed to keep children out of the courthouse has lost its secondary funding, making the benefit even more important. Weiland said the state "took money accruing in our account" to use for budgetary needs. She has called the attorney general, senators and representatives and "everyone we know" to address the issue, she said.

Meanwhile, attendees helped out by purchasing raffle tickets for jewelry, gift certificates and a variety of other prizes. Jenny Bielak was teased when her name was drawn for the earrings she had donated - earrings she really liked.

Mike Boyd of Colorado Technical University was thanked for sponsoring the after-work fundraiser.

-

Send information about nonprofit events and fundraisers to
 linda.navarro@gazette.com or mail to Linda Navarro, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs, 80901.