Bishop's dinner proceeds go to schools

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
December 9, 2004

The Eighth Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education raised $102,552 in net proceeds.

"This is one of the best dinners we have ever had in terms of financial results," said Jim Wharton, director of stewardship and planned giving for the Diocese of Sioux City. "We received great support from sponsors, businesses and individuals, and we also had very strong ticket sales this year."

Of the more than $100,000 raised, $72,000 will go directly to the Catholic schools. Kevin Vickery, superintendent of Catholic schools, is personally delivering the checks.

"The amount that a particular school received is attributable to their participation in the dinner," noted Wharton. "If more attendees came from a particular school, the bigger their distribution."

He pointed out that each ticket cost $125. Eighty-five dollars of every ticket went directly back to the school where it was sold. So if a school sold 10 tickets, their share would be $850.

Wharton mentioned that Remsen St. Mary's is an example of a school system that year after year take advantage of the bishop's dinner as a viable fundraiser. This year alone the Remsen school had 56 designated tickets, earning them $4,760 from ticket sales alone.

"We took $30,552 of our net proceeds to fund an instructional grant program through the Catholic School Foundation. This is the fund that the schools apply to for help in teacher development, buying textbooks and software. Every school has access to the money on a grant basis," said Wharton. "It is managed by the Department of Education." All of the Catholic schools can apply for grants from this fund.

The remaining funds were divided on a per student basis. All of the Catholic schools received money based on the number of students enrolled.

Wharton stressed that with this overall formula, the schools that came through with strong ticket sales saw the greatest return.

"If a school wanted to have a bigger check, how they could do that was to participate and sell tickets," he said.

He pointed out that in addition to Remsen St. Mary's and the Catholic Schools of Sioux City, another system with strong ticket sales was Spalding Catholic.

Wharton attributed much of the success of the dinner to the popularity of Bishop Dennis Schnurr, a native of Hospers and graduate of Spalding Catholic Schools, who was the keynote speaker. Presently, Bishop Schnurr heads the Diocese of Duluth, Minn.

"He came back to his hometown diocese. We had a lot of support from the Hospers area from people who knew him when he was a student," said Wharton. "This was the best year that Spalding has ever had in ticket sales. They really did a wonderful job."

Wharton extended special thanks to the development directors who were very supportive of the dinner. Two of the development directors that really came through were Sherry Nilles of Spalding and Norine Harvey of Remsen St. Mary's.

The funds that are distributed directly to the schools can be used at the discretion of the schools, where it is needed most.

Wharton also expressed gratitude to Dr. Gerald and Sheryl McGowan for chairing this year's dinner as well as the numerous volunteers that served on the bishop's dinner committee.

"I think their efforts really paid off on the evening of the dinner because we had so many positive comments," he said. "It was a successful evening all around - one of the best dinner's we have ever had."

Along with the obvious benefit of cash directly to the schools, the dinner is also the only opportunity every year when people are brought together from all points of the diocese to celebrate "the wonder of Catholic education and Catholic schools." Wharton said, "It is truly a time of celebration."

Next year's dinner is slated for Oct. 23 at the Sioux City Convention Center.

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