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04.12.08
FATHERS CLUB AUCTION &
MERCEDES RAFFLE
The Fathers Club Annual
Auction & Car Raffle hosted a record crowd with about 350 people in attendance on the evening of April 12.
This year's event featured many remarkable gifts and prizes.
With the generosity of donors reaching new heights, prize donations were up about 20% over last year's total. Among the prizes were numerous golf outings at local country clubs, a Jersey Shore fishing trip, a week at a
beautiful vacation home in Lake Placid and a rare one of a kind original signed sketch from designer Donna Karan.
This year brought some new ideas to the event, including a
"Mega 50/50," worth over $1000 and a Phillips 42" Plasma TV, worth over $1200 as the door prize!
The featured event was the pulling of the winning ticket for the brand new
Mercedes Benz C Class sedan; it turned out to be the highlight of the evening for a Prep family— Mr. & Mrs. Pacyna, parents of sophomore Michael, of Linden NJ were the happy winners.
Also during the event, Msgr. Kelly presented the Art Williams Award to Mark Infante, father of senior class member Andrew, and Lou Puopolo, dad of former Prep student Louis
'05. The late Art Williams was a "behind the scenes" kind of Fathers Club member in the organization's early days in the late sixties, whose unsung work and participation endured for many years after his son graduated
from The Prep. The award is given to honor his memory. This year's recipients, Mark and Lou, were again co-chairs of the car raffle. Their work and determination to make this major event into an annual sell-out has
raised the fund-raising bar to new heights; their dedication to The Prep truly embodies the spirit of Art Williams.
The auction was supported by current Prep students
coordinated by Director of Admission Tom Cuomo; according to auction Chairman Vincent D'Antonio ('80) (father of senior Vincent Jr.), the students "were the best contingent of helpers he has seen in his 4 years at the
auction."
The auction was coordinated by the school's Fathers Club adviser, Athletic Director Joseph Walsh, and supported by an outstanding cast of fathers including
several dads of former Prep students; Joe Brower, Tony Esposito, and long-time veteran auction executive committee member Mike Della Pella. Among current Prep fathers working for at least a second time on the auction
were Bruce Desonne (father of William '09), Phil Calinda (father of Philip '10), and Mike Malgieri (father of Michael '09). The dedication and spirit of the large contingent of other freshman and sophomore dads
supporting this year's auction also helped make the event a success. This crew's effort looks to be building tremendous "bench strength" for Coach Walsh for next year's auction and beyond.
This year's event was a genuine hit and as a result of donor and attendee generosity is tallying up to exceed last year's event total! The club sends the school's
gratitude to all the donors and attendees for their continued support of this important event. See you next year!!
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hotos: RCM/SHP |
