St. Francis Xavier’s biennial school auction continued its tradition of fun and fundraising on Saturday, April 5, 2014. A gigantic tent was raised in the parish’s east parking lot to host a senior event and mass at 2 p.m. followed by the main event, FrancisPalooza, at 6 p.m. The perimeter of the tent was lined with rockin’ photos of students and banners acknowledging the top 15 sponsors. Photo Booth Sponsors: Marcy and Chris Witte and Pam and Bill Devitt. Stage Sponsors: Katy and Tim Doyle, Elizabeth and Chris Cooley, Chris and Mike Morkin, Stacy and Chris McClure, and 16th District Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski.
Over 575 attendees arrived to FrancisPalooza wearing their favorite concert t-shirts and lanyards with “back stage passes,” which doubled as name tags and bidding numbers. There was excitement in the air as guests signed up for over 240 silent auction packages with a total value of over $100,000. The live auction portion of the evening kicked off with a warm welcome from Principal Debra Rodde and a heartfelt acknowledgement and thank you from two young adults who were past recipients of the tuition assistance program at St. Francis Xavier. The night rounded out with the crowd dancing to live music by the Mini Reubens.
Proceeds from the auction will provide significant funds for building and classroom improvements, technology upgrades, general operating costs for the school and tuition assistance. St. Francis Xavier 2014 auction chairs Kelly and Pat Brennan, Becca and Steve Merchant, Stef and Michael Schodrof and Val and John Walls are grateful to all of the community and parish sponsors, auction item donors, underwriters, advertisers, volunteers and attendees for making FrancisPalooza a success.
