Comedy and Cuisine

Reprinted from the Chimes September 2008.

Plans are already underway for a fabulous evening of dinner and entertainment that will highlight 2009 Comedy & Cuisine.

Mark your calendars and “save the date” for Saturday, March 28, 2009. The event is again planned for the beautiful Hilton Omaha next to the Qwest Center. Comedy & Cuisine is a semi-formal dinner that includes live and silent auctions. The event is the primary fund-raiser for Saint Cecilia Grade School and has raised more than $1.2 million since it was first held 12 years ago. Event chairs for 2009 are Rus and Marci Biven and Mike and Martha O’Connor. Chairs for 2010 are Michael and Kim Joyce and Mike and Julie Swartz. More details will be available in the next issue of The Chimes. The Kick-Off Party for Comedy & Cuisine is planned from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the new Cathedral Center, scheduled to open soon on the north end of the former high school.

We are pleased to announce that Barry and Mary Agnes Gerken and Bob and Mary Kay Gerken have agreed to serve as Co-Honorary Chairs of 2009 Comedy & Cuisine.We are honored and proud that two such dedicated and outstanding couples will serve in those roles. Barry and Mary Agnes and Bob and Mary Kay have a long history of service to the school and parish. Their participation sends a strong signal that Comedy & Cuisine remains vital to the continued success of our school.

Each year Comedy & Cuisine also selects honorees to recognize for their service. For 2009, Comedy & Cuisine will honor Leo Batenhorst as Great Steward and the Stoffels as Great Family.

Over the years, Leo has served as a dedicated school employee, coach, festival leader and many other roles. Comedy & Cuisine is honoring the multiple Stoffel families and generations of Stoffels who have served as coaches, festival volunteers, outstanding school supporters and many other duties.

We need more volunteers to help prepare for the 2009 event so please contact the Bivens at 561-9471 or or the O’Connors at 551-0333. Your time and talents will provide a great help. We will soon start acquiring items for the silent auction so please look for sources of donated items. Categories include home, kids, art and jewelry, sports and the outdoors, and gift certificates for goods and services. We also will need vacation, dining, home improvement and other special packages for the live auction.