Prep Talk
A Message About the White Hot Night at the Forum from Institutional Advancement
Posted April 19th, 2013
“What a night!” “I can’t believe this is the Rodio Gym, it’s beautiful.” “If I eat any more scallops wrapped in bacon, I’m going to bust.” “Wow!” These are just a few of the glowing comments made at the annual White Hot Night at the Forum fundraiser held on Saturday, April 13.
Walking up to the Forum, guests were immediately greeted by students who held torches as they stood on platforms of varying heights. Opening the doors, the lobby was draped in white curtains which featured pictures of students sporting dapper white hats. Mrs. MaryLou Newnam led a small group of school musicians who filled the foyer with cool jazz.
A dark curtain hallway made a mystery of the gym decorations, but as soon as one walked through the narrow passageway their senses met with a burst of white – tablecloths, chairs, centerpieces and funky geometric shapes precariously dangled from the ceiling all reflected the White Hot theme. Swirling lights bounced around the room as music played in the background.
Guests dined on delicious entrees that included eggplant rollatini, mushroom risotto, crab balls, ricotta ravioli, turkey sliders, chicken Pisano, meatballs and shrimp to name a few of the twenty food stations that dotted the perimeter of the gym. The bar was open the entire time and served patrons every imaginable cocktail.
A silent and live auction featured 65 gifts donated by parents and friends of St. Augustine Prep. Sports tickets, Eagles’ sideline passes, jewelry, golf packages, a tour of the U.S. Capitol, trips to St. Maarten, North Carolina and the Bahamas were just a few of the items guests bid against each other in a spirited back and forth exchange. A painting by senior, Bobby White, drew a lot of attention and was won with a final bid of $1,500! Coach Rodio was once again the guest auctioneer who coaxed the 300+ crowd into bidding more than they probably wanted to, as well as keeping them entertained throughout the evening.
Sophomore Devin Mulloy spoke about his Prep experience thus far and Fr. Reilly asked those in attendance to donate to the school’s tuition assistance fund. Over $15,000 was collected.
The evening ended with the picking of the winning ticket of the 2013 BMW X1 sDrive 28i by benefactor, Rose Davis. We’re proud to announce that Mr. Bill O’Hara of Avalon was the lucky winner.
All in all, the evening couldn’t have been more perfect. Through the generous spirit of the volunteers, donor and guests, the White Hot Night at the Forum raised a little over $100,000 for the students of St. Augustine Preparatory School.
A sincere Thank You to all who made the White Hot Night at the Forum a huge success!
Photo Caption: The Rodio Gym was transformed into a White Hot Night at the Forum.