Schools receive proceeds of bishop's dinner

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
December 8, 2005

The Ninth Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education raised approximately $106,000 in net proceeds.

"This year's dinner was one of the biggest dinners we have had in terms of sales and revenue," said Jim Wharton, director of the Office of Stewardship and Planned Giving for the Diocese of Sioux City. "We sold over 650 tickets this year, which made it one of the bigger dinners in our nine-year history. Our ticket sales were up and our sponsorships were up, so all in all financially it was a very successful event."

According to Wharton, the net sales are up about three percent from last year.

"The dinner was a very successful event," said Wharton. "We were very pleased with all aspects of the dinner."

There are three different parts to the distribution of the money. First, about $34,000 goes to an instructional grants program for the Catholic School Foundation.

"That program is accessible by any of the Catholic schools in the diocese for different educational materials - software, books, whatever," said Wharton. "Everyone has equal access to that."

The rest of funds, $72,000 will be distributed in two ways.

Of every ticket sold, $85 will be returned back to the school from where it came. For example if someone from Humboldt bought a ticket, they could designate on their ticket that they would like that ticket credited to St. Mary's Humboldt, noted Wharton.

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

"We think it is fair in every way," said Wharton. "It rewards those individuals, schools and communities who work hard to sell tickets for the dinner because they get $85 back. It is also fair to the students and the schools because they get a piece of it, too."

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

"The funds can be used to meet the greatest need that they have," said Wharton. "There is no restriction on the funds. Wherever they have a need, they can plug this in."

Wharton noted that a couple of communities in the diocese greatly contributed to the dinner.

"Algona nearly doubled their attendance this year, which was great news for us. They actually brought a bus of people. That was because Gene Meister was being recognized as an outstanding administrator," said Wharton. "I think that speaks so highly of the work that Gene does in the Garrigan system."

Another community that had a good showing was the Granville Spalding area. Wharton believes that that is attributable to the chaircouple, Joe and Liz Kellen.

"They worked very hard and are very well-respected people in that parish community," said Wharton. "They did a great job."

The Remsen St. Mary's community also had a good crowd again this year, mentioned Wharton.

"I think we need to single out the work that was done in Le Mars, the people in the Gehlen community," said Wharton. "They had a nice increase this year."

Wharton explained that taking into account the strong showing from a number of schools, it was a good event.

"It was a great event overall," said Wharton. "We had a great showing by the communities. The checks will be distributed before the end of the year."

The 10th Annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Education is slated for Oct. 22 at the Sioux City Convention Center.

"We are particularly excited for the 2006 dinner because it will be our first time in three years that we will have a bishop for the bishop's dinner," said Wharton. "It will be Bishop Nickless' first bishop's dinner so we are excited about that."