THE GYMNASIUM IN THE Meruelo Athletic Center on the Mater Dei High School campus was recently transformed into a premier tasting festival, featuring offerings from 31 different food and beverage establishments, many owned by Mater Dei parents, alumni or both.
Appropriately called “A Taste of Mater Dei, hundreds of Mater Dei supporters turned out for the Feb. 1 event, the Catholic High School’s largest annual fundraiser, not to mention the tastiest. Held for more than 30 years, the event brings together the Mater Dei community, with proceeds funding various programs, technology upgrades and general operating expenses, ultimately benefiting all students, said Allison Bergeron ’96, executive director of Communications and Media Relations at Mater Dei.
“This year’s funding need focuses on creating collaborative workspaces in the library and counseling office, further enhancing the school’s facilities,” Bergeron said.
Festivities included a live and online auction and live entertainment.
A Taste of Mater Dei raised $411,000, Bergeron said, while providing exposure for the participating businesses.
“It’s a business builder for them,” she said. “So, they want to support the event, give back to Mater Dei and build their business.”
Attendees pay $150 per ticket to enjoy unlimited food and drink tastings, with proceeds generated from ticket sales, sponsorship, and auctions. Rachel Svoboda, Mater Dei alumna, parent and founder of Lynxx Spirits, provided signature cocktails crafted with Lynxx Bourbon, an award-winning small-batch bourbon whiskey operated by an all-female team.
As an advertising executive, entrepreneur, author and philanthropist, Svoboda supports multiple Catholic schools and nonprofits and has supported A Taste of Mater Dei for several years.
“The Catholic Community is very important to us,” Svoboda said. “I loved my time here at Mater Dei.”
Stephen and Regina Oswald, parents of a Mater Dei sophomore, have been the presenting sponsors of the event through their foundation for the past two years.
Stephen Oswald emphasized the couple’s commitment to Catholic education.
“I believe in the mission,” Oswald said. “We believe in supporting teachers. And so, that’s an easy place for us to put our money. It takes a lot of money to pull this together and we want the school to do well. I don’t want them to pay for it, so we give the money for Mater Dei do whatever they need to do with it.”
Among the notable attendees and longtime supporters of the event was 1959 Mater Dei graduate Bob Webber, who attended the first ever Taste of Mater Dei and supports many school functions.
“It’s just payback for what I got from the school,” said Webber, a former multi-sport Monarch and one of Mater Dei’s first ASB presidents. “They gave me ten times more than I could ever give back.”
Donated auction items included four VIP tickets for the front row to an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, plus unlimited food and drinks in the prestigious Impact Club.
Another auctioned item was a VIP trip to New York City and Boston, including sightseeing tours in both cities and a private tour of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Vendors with connections to Mater Dei included the Newport Rib Company, Sugar + Grain Bake Company and BuonGuido Wines.
Melinda Craft, coordinator of Advancement, Operations and Special Events at Mater Dei, spends much of the school year planning A Taste of Mater Dei.
“We have a crew of about 20 parent volunteers, who have given up their nights virtually every night for the last three weeks to put together the amazing online auction,” Craft said. “It’s by far the biggest party of the year. And alums come back to have a chance to fellowship with each other and reminisce on old times back on their stomping grounds.”