Montini Catholic to celebrate 30th annual Maroon & Gold Gala virtually
Montini Catholic High School in Lombard is celebrating the Lasallian high school's 30th annual benefit auction during the virtual "Maroon & Gold Gala" on Saturday, April 24.
The evening begins at 6:45 p.m. with pre-Gala presentations and continues until 8:40 p.m., concluding with their much anticipated $20,000 Champions Club Raffle drawing. The virtual guests also will be able to participate in an online auction throughout the evening.
"Our Champions Club Raffle is our most anticipated raffle of the year," said President Jim Segredo. "This year we're giving away a $2,000 second prize and over $2,000 additional in third- through seventh-place prizes. We are also holding an "early bird" drawing on Feb. 24 when we'll be giving away $2,000 in prizes on this day too."
President Segredo noted that raffle-ticket holders need not attend the virtual gala to win.
"We look forward to our alumni, parents and friends joining us as we celebrate the outstanding Lasallian education our school provides as well as those being honored for helping us empower and inspire tomorrow's leaders," Segredo said.
Honorees this year:
• Faculty Dedication Award recipient: Christine O'Neill McManus, Class of 1988
• Builders of Excellence recipients: Michael, Class of 1971, and Diane Kosmach Schumacher, Class of 1971
• Leadership Award recipients: Dan and Dina Laughlin, Class of 1986
• Loyalty Award recipients: Bobby and Amy Marciniak
• Signum Fidei Award recipient: Mike Allred and Qs Restaurant & Pizzeria (Hillside)
• Legacy Family Award recipients: Margaret Crotty and the Crotty Family
The annual "Maroon & Gold Gala" is the school's largest fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting all academic, religious and community service endeavors. Each year, students volunteer to give back to the community through several community service projects including their Golden Gobbler Food Drive, Sophomore Day of Service, and Adopt-a-Family events. They just recently completed a Coat Drive for John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County during Catholic Schools Week. Broncos also attend service oriented mission trips throughout the year with Habitat for Humanity (trips were halted this year due to COVID-19 restrictions) and are hoping to be able to plan their sixth international trip soon to Jamaica to provide support to impoverished families.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 shelter in place order enacted in Illinois last March, the school was not able to hold their gala last spring.
"We were very disappointed that we could not come together to celebrate our student success stories or the accomplishments of our honorees," said President Segredo. "The pandemic, however, has not affected the spirit of generosity and support that we experience every year at our gala and beyond. All of our corporate and individual sponsors and advertisers, and many of our ticket holders, honored their financial commitments to the gala to ensure that our school benefited financially. We were humbled by the generosity we witnessed, and extremely thankful to each and every one of them."
Friends and businesses interested in supporting the school by donating auction items may contact Jim Segredo at (630) 627-6930 or jsegredo@montini.org.
Individuals wanting to purchase a Champions Club Raffle ticket for their shot at winning $20,000 may do so online at www.montini.org/champions21.
"Maroon & Gold Gala" information can be found at www.montini.org/Gala21.