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Events in Review

Bishop Garcia Diego High School Presents "Dinner and a Movie" – Auction 2009

As guests arrived for Bishop’s Annual Gala Dinner and Auction, the event’s décor captured their attention and drew them back in time to 1959.  That was the school’s first year on the La Colina Road campus.  50’s era cars lined the patio entrance, accenting the fact that this was Bishop High’s 50th anniversary.  Couples strolled past a deep purple Chevrolet Belair and a fiesta red Ford Thunderbird.  Once greeted and presented with their “movie guide” program guests clustered together to admire the Chevrolet Belair, an Oldsmobile Holiday, a Ford Fairlane Retractable, a Mercury Turnpike Cruiser and another Ford Thunderbird.  While viewing the mint condition vehicles, Rincon Catering staff in car hop attire offered guests grilled Kobe beef mini burgers, sweet potato fries and a martini with a twist, a perfect combo from the 50’s. 

After guests managed to separate themselves from the vintage era cars, they followed the blinking neon movie sign to the event’s main entrance.  Each guest was greeted by Fr. Tom Elewaut, the school’s principal.  The glamour of attending a large movie event continued with flashing light bulbs as pictures were snapped of our “famous and dedicated” guests!  Guests for the main attraction included the Boeddeker Family, Victor and Kathleen Bottiani, the DaRos Family, Rusty and Lynda Fairly and the Gherini Family. 

As the event filled with family and friends all gathered around auction tables to bid on amazing items such as a private pasta party for eight, a painting from artist Ralph Waterhouse and a juke box from the 70's that really did play 45 rpm records!  Other items available to the highest bidder included a Pac Man pinball machine, a week long stay in Vail, Co., tickets to Fleet Week to see the Blue Angels, a San Francisco get away that included golf for two at the Olympic Club and a fine wine dinner party hosted by Bishop Parents John and Pat Klink.  

As the ladies huddled around the private Spa Party package for six at an exclusive beachfront home and a tour and luncheon for ten at Carpinteria’s hidden jewel The Rose Story Farm, the men vied for the tamale dinner for 25, the margarita basket, Dodger Tickets, golf at Glen Annie Golf Club, Santa Barbara Forester Family Passes, Sky Diving and the executive Viva La Fiesta package also received center stage attention. 

Bishop families in attendance included the Kwocks, the Grimes, the Fazios, the Iannellis and the Van Wingerden-Brands who joined new guests to the event as they shared their current Bishop and alumni stories throughout evening.

The evening’s theme, “Dinner and a Movie” came to life as guests previewed the dining area, complete with a drive-in theater motif.  Behind the bar area stood a large “concession station” filled with candies from the 50’ and 60’s eras.  The Rincon staff meshed seamlessly with the theme as they donned old style soda jerk hats and bow ties. 

As guests entered the “drive-in theatre” to find their reserved tables, there were giggles from all as they remarked on the tables’ centerpieces.  Each table sported a large “fish bowl” brimming with popcorn.  Attached to the top was a model 50’s era Chevrolet convertible overflowing with candy bars!  Guests were  seen trading for their concession stand favorites as the evening unfolded. Special thank you to our very own Bishop Family, John and Tami Robitaille’s from Robitaille’s Fine Candies, for providing the array of 50’s era candies. 

Throughout dinner and the silent auction students sold raffle tickets for the 50/50 drawing and keys for the traditional diamond jewelry drawing.  Throughout the evening guests could view the diamond earring and diamond drop pendant necklace locked safely within its own large, locked Lucite case! A special thank you is offered to Bryant & Sons for providing the complimentary diamond ensemble for this traditional Bishop High feature.  Not until the live auction closed was the box available to guests as they lined up to try their keys in the lock of that Lucite case.

Fr. Tom Elewaut greeted all seated guests and thanked committee members with a warm welcome and an opening prayer.  While this was a night for guests to enjoy each others company and support the school, it was also a night to honor a family that has been part of the school for fifty years.  Bishop High honored the Borgatello Family: Mario and Peggy, David ’60 and Louise and Mario A. ‘62 and Judy ’62, well know in the community and supportive of community functions and most importantly a family who whole heartedly believes in the mission of Bishop High.  (Please read the write up of the Borgatello Family on the side bar).  With a standing ovation from over three hundred guests, the roar of applause truly brought family and friends to tears.  On behalf of Bishop Garcia Diego High School, we are truly grateful for their support throughout the years.   

In keeping with the 50’s era, dinner was served “family style” as vintage film clips played on the “drive-in” theatre screen.  At Live Auction time, cowboy auctioneers from the San Luis Obispo area Colonel Todd Ventura, Lee Pitts and Jim Settle, began to auction off the first live item, the T-Bird Table.  This fist auction item of the evening offered VIP seating and VIP treatment for a table of ten guests. The T-Bird table was positioned in a prime location in front of the stage, with champagne and premier wines from Fess Parker Winery, private wait staff, special 50’s desserts designed by Rincon, and gifts that included A & W root beer BBQ sauce, a cocktail kit, a Wonder bread book, a corn dog kit and of course the famous and delicious pink snowballs.  These were just some of the goodies the ten guests received for the winning bid on the T-Bird table.  Enjoying a bidding tug-of-war, John and Mary Ann Gherini ultimately triumphed and the guests at their table were re-seated at the T-Bird table. 

Guests got right into the act as they enjoyed a feast of gourmet, family style dishes, plates were passed around the table as people dished up real mashed potatoes with whipped butter, meatloaf with mushroom gravy, baked macaroni and cheese, sautéed green beans and julienne of carrots and much more.  The meal was a perfect compliment to the clips of movies and commercials from the 50’s playing on the staged the drive-in theater screen.  Even with a full meal, who could turn down dessert?  It was pineapple upside down cake, tapioca pudding, mini ho-ho style cupcakes, rice krispie treats and of course… mini chocolate milkshakes designed for the both the Borgatello honoree table and the T-Bird table. 

The main attraction for the evening’s fundraising efforts was the Adopt-A-Student Appeal.  An inspirational video introduced this vital school program which provides tuition assistance for student families in need.  The presentation included the commentary of two Bishop students who thanked all present at the event, remarking on how their high school experience at Bishop High had prepared them with friends and skills that they could take with them as they moved on in life. As attendees responded to the call to action to help support students such as these, paddles were raised ranging from the $10,000 level to the $100 level and $159,000 was raised to help support the 60% of the Bishop student body who receive tuition assistance. 

As the LIVE auction resumed, guests including the Lash Family, the Herold Family, the Gignac Family, the Snider Family and others were on the edge of their “theatre seats” ready to bid!!!  Live items included Viva Las Vegas for Two included flight, hotel at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, private dinner at Blues Foundation Room, tickets to see Danny Gans and much more sparkle.  In keeping with the evening’s theme there was a “Dinner and a Movie” auction package that included your very own (126”x70”) inflatable screen, a projector, dinner for ten from Rincon and movies that would keep you glued to the screen for days.  Also up for bid was a Sharp-Aquos 65” flat screen HDTV, a signed Michael Jordan basketball, a Ritz Carlton Getaway in Colorado and a Western Country BBQ hosted by our honorees The Borgatello Family.  Other BIG items included a seven night get away to the Pacific Northwest, your very own paddleboard by Laird Hamilton, premier tickets to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers, “A Day with Danny Kwock” with your very own Al Merrick Surfboard and of course the  trip to South Bend to see Notre Dame take on Boston College.  There was just too much to mention here so we hope to see you again next year at this sold out event so you can join in the fun.

The event was a smashing success!!!  All was made possible by an amazing crew of Bishop parent volunteers, staff and our dedicated guests who have continued to support the school year after year, for fifty years.  Bishop High is very grateful to its community of donors and their generous contribution of in-kind gifts, auction items, personal time and attention. 

Thank you to the following families who allowed the school to display their amazing cars for this event.  The Verhasselt Family, the McClintock Family, the Borgatello Family, the Salter Family and the Najera Family.