WITH PLATES OF SPAGHETTI, salad and garlic bread, children and parents tried to navigate eating their dinner while clutching bingo daubers and listening intently to Fr. Mike Rizzo calling out the numbers within the bustling hall.
GEOFF MILES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SITS WITH HIS SONS, ANDREW MILES, LEFT, 7, AND JACK MILES, 10, AS THEY LOOK UP AT THE BIG BOARD OF NUMBERS WHILE PLAYING BINGO DURING A FUNDRAISER AT ST. EDWARD THE CONFESSOR PARISH SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Finally, sixth-grader Adelyn Gill jumped up, weaving between tables and chairs filled with her classmates and their families. She zig-zagged to the front to show her winning bingo card.
“This was my first time playing bingo,” Gill said triumphantly. “It’s really fun because you get to be with family and friends, and I was really happy that my friend was with me when I won.”
FR. MICHAEL RIZZO CALLS OUT BINGO NUMBERS DURING THE FUNDRAISER. PHOTOS BY JEFF ANTENORE/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
St. Edward the Confessor Parish School hosted its 8th annual Monarch Giving Day on Nov. 18 with its penultimate event: Bingo and Bolognese in the parish’s pastoral center. The event brought out more than 300 members of the Dana Point school and parish for the fundraiser event — nearly double last year’s turnout. The school raised more than $131,000.
“This year’s Monarch Giving Day was more than a fundraiser; it was a celebration of who we are as a community: faithful, joyful and full of heart,” said Principal Suzanne Edwards. “Together, we live out our mission every day: to form disciples of Christ who lead with love and serve with gratitude.”
The Monarch Giving Day is St. Edward’s 33-hour and 1-minute fundraiser for its annual fund. The fund supports student enrichment, such as extracurriculars and academic programs; campus safety and security; tuition assistance for families in need; professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
The 33 hours and 1 minute represent the school’s 1981 founding in minutes. The goal of the day was to raise $80,000; a number they hit before Bingo and Bolognese even started. Hitting the goal was an exciting moment at the school, said St. Edward Events Coordinator Whitney Tioleco. “Honestly, we were so excited,” said Tioleco. “I feel like our community in general is so generous. I know it can be tough times right now, but these families are so generous. Whether it’s a small donation or a large donation, whatever they can give, people still want to give to the school to help support these important buckets that we fundraise for.”
For 11-year-old Gill, events like these are something to look forward to. She started at St. Edward last year and is enjoying the opportunity to play lacrosse and compete in mock trial — much better opportunities offered than at her public school.
For eighth-graders Lilliana Lezama, 14, and Lainey Loungarikis, 13, it was important to come out to support their school. They were both volunteering selling sodas and cookies to raise money for their grades’ graduation gifts. They both said St. Edward is a welcoming environment. Loungarikis said she especially appreciates that no one is excluded.
“I’m passionate about my school because I love all the teachers and how nice and supportive everyone is,” Lezama added.
Parent Rosalee Hormuth wanted to help by volunteering at the event to give back to the community she has been a part of for the last eight years. Hormuth and her husband decided to enroll their oldest son in second grade after his public school underwent budget cuts that affected arts and music education. After touring St. Edward the Confessor and seeing its art and music room, the family was sold.
“We saw that and we were like, ‘Sign us up!’” Hormuth said. “We also liked the idea that it’s connected to the church. It’s more of that family/faith combination.