2006 Pueblo Dinner and Silent Auction

PUEBLO - Whether you were a grant recipient, or a supporter, all those attending this year’s Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Foundation dinner and grant awards presentation were rewarded in many ways. Guests witnessed a total of $185,597 in funds being awarded this year, bringing the six year total of awards from the Foundation to over $690,000; and were entertained by featured speaker Ann Jillian, who delivered an uplifting and inspiring presentation. The meal, catered by Rosario’s Restaurant, also was elegant and outstanding.

Grant recipients, many who traveled to Pueblo from as far away as Monte Vista and Montrose, represented 14 parishes in the Diocese of Pueblo and received funds for 2006-2007.

Held June 16 at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference center, the dinner was attended by 380 guests and proceeds, including Silent Auction sales, totaled $33,000.

2006 grants

The Most Rev. Bishop Arthur Tafoya personally handed out this year’s awards to: Saint Therese Catholic School – Pueblo - $10,000 for scholarships and tuition assistance;  The Hispanic Affairs Pastoral Project – Montrose - $4,000 for training for board members and Hispanic leaders; St. Paul the Apostle Church – Pueblo West - $31,169 to help build a new church in Pueblo West; St. Columba Catholic School – Durango - $3,000 to assist in replacing heating system and boiler; St. Joseph Parish – Monte Vista - $3,000 to replace worn carpeting in church offices and hallways; San Juan Community – Monte Vista - $1,000 for repairs and renovation to “La Casita de Jesus” Retreat Center; Los Pobres Center – Avondale - $5,000 for direct services to poor immigrants and economically indigent in the community; Sacred Heart Cathedral – Pueblo - $5,000 for restoration of the Stained Glass Windows; Sacred Heart Parish – Avondale - $500 for bi-lingual religious education materials; Holy Name Parish – Del Norte - $1,500 to replace carpet; St. Ann Parish – Palisade - $4,000 towards repair of bathrooms and roof; St. Francis Church – Pueblo - $1,778 to purchase new water heater for church and ice maker for church hall; Office of Worship and Spiritual Life – Pueblo Diocese - $2,650 to defray costs for lay ministers to attend out of state educational conference; Historic Southside Catholic Community – Pueblo – includes St. Patrick’s Church, St. Mary’s, and Our Lady of the Assumption - $2,000 for supplies for children’s religious education formation and the largest award to the Diocese of Pueblo - $111,000 for Seminarian Education.

The Catholic Diocese of Pueblo Foundation was established in 1995 by Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya with funds from the Seminarian Burse Endowment to be used specifically for education and general needs of potential and studying seminarians. The success of the fund led the Foundation Board of Directors to seek and expand its good work to touch more lives in the diocese.

The current areas of support include the General Fund, Humanitarian Concerns, Parish and Mission Assistance and Tuition and Education Assistance to Diocesan Catholic Schools and awards have been made since 2001.

Foundation Board Members

Current Foundation Board Members include: Chairman Louis Carleo – Pueblo; Vice Chair Carol Murphy – Grand Junction; Treasurer Ralph Williams – Pueblo, Rev. Tom Adrians – Pueblo, Rev. Carlos Alvarez- Pagosa Springs, Mike Cafasso – Pueblo, Billie Jo Faricy – Canon City, Rev. Richard Becker – Pueblo, Jack Duray – Grand Junction, Ron Diodosio – Pueblo, Valerie Mortell – Telluride, Tony Prinster – Grand Junction, Vincent Rogalski – Gunnison, Stella Shanks – Grand Junction, Cathy Valenzuela – Pueblo and Bishop Tafoya.

Keynote Speaker

Ms. Jillian, a three-time Emmy Nominee and Golden Globe Award winning actress, singer and motivational speaker, intrigued the audience with her personal journey of faith, motivation and cancer survival. She has starred in motion pictures and on television, performed in nightclubs and on the Broadway stage. In 1990, Good Housekeeping Magazine named her one of the most admired women in the world.

She shared many stories about her life and how being a practicing Catholic helps her spiritually in her everyday life and prompted the audience to ‘take care of themselves mentally and physically.’ At the age of 35 she discovered she had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. With the love and support of her family and friends, she battled the disease successfully. Later, she starred as herself in “The Ann Jillian Story” which detailed her life in the entertainment world as well as her battle and victory with breast cancer. She should be called ‘the come back kid.’ 

She charmed the audience with her vocal abilities, singing several verses from Amazing Grace and also, The Wind Beneath My Wings, saying she had performed that piece while on tour with Bob Hope’s USO tours, years before Bette Midler made it famous. 

And to the delight of everyone there, after her presentation she took questions from the audience, discussing everything from Hollywood glamour to her decision to stay at home and raise her son.

Ms. Jillian is highly thought of as a motivational speaker and her engagements are extensive.

Dinner Sponsors

Sponsors for the evening included: Gold and Speaker Sponsor: St. Mary Corwin Medical Center, Tom Anderson, Chief Executive Officer; Silver Sponsor: Pueblo Bank and Trust, Don Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer; Head Table Sponsor: Catholic Mutual Group, Inc.

Table Sponsors were: Abel Engineering and Byerly & Cosyleon, American Bank of Commerce, Catholic Charities of Pueblo, Christian Brothers Investments, Colorado Technical University, Don and Mary Creager, Jr., D&D Marketing, Ken and Cathy Danylchuk, Diocese of Pueblo, Ron and Cathy Diodosio, Faricy Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc., Joe Giannetto, Lucille Haggerty, Immaculate Heart of Mary – Pagosa Springs, LDC Properties, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Our Lady of the Meadows – Pueblo, Premier Homes, Joe and Del Prinster, St. Pius X & St. Paul the Apostle Parishes – Pueblo and Pueblo West, Rosario’s Restaurant, St. Thomas More Hospital – Canon City, SCA Insurance, Sound Venture Realty, Tri-County Auto Force and Jim and Cathy Valenzuela.

A special thanks went to Enstrom Candies of Grand Junction.