By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
A change in format and venue at this year’s Marian Educational Outreach annual fundraiser yielded an increase of over 100 attendees over last year’s event.
Marian Educational Outreach held their annual fundraising event Feb. 1 at Warehouse 410 in Evansville. This year’s event theme was Raisin’ Buck$ on a Bull. Three-hundred people signed up to attend this year’s event, which included dinner, multiple opportunities to contribute financially during the annual event and a bull riding competition with 13 competitors. Last year’s event drew in 175 people.
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel led prayer at the beginning of the event prior to dinner. Father Christopher Droste, pastor at St. Boniface Parish in Evansville and priest delegate at Mater Dei High School, won the bull riding event.
Marian Educational Outreach has a long-lying mission of supporting Catholic schools and partnering with them to ensure that children with disabilities are able to receive a quality education, MEO Executive Director Emily Schnapf said. They are now partnering to serve over 1,000 students directly.
“It is an honor to witness the wonderful work that happens on a daily basis in our Catholic diocese,” Schnapf said. “Your generosity tonight allows us to support the teachers, the administrators and all school staff through grant cycles, professional development and staffing assistance.”
Schnapf said Raisin’ Buck$ on a Bull came to life through planning and brainstorming to not only bring joy to the donors during the event, but to involve many community members who loyally support the organization. She said the 13 riders on the panel were strategically chosen to increase fundraising, market their mission and honor those who hold MEO near to their heart.
“Many of our riders have been supporting the organization for years,” Schnapf said. “And all of our riders are passionate about the mission.”
Prior to the event, individuals had the opportunity to donate funds towards each of the 13 bull riders. Event attendees also had the chance to bid on one or multiple riders prior to their turn on the bull. Schnapf confirmed as of Feb. 3, bull ride sponsorships raised were over $30,000 and were continuing to rise.
Schnapf said responses to the new event format were not only well received but gave new life to the event. As in years past when MEO hosted its Idol Gala, groups of people coming together on such a fun night radiates positive energy and puts life into fundraising efforts, Schnapf said. They wanted donors to not only be excited about coming to a fun new event but also wanted the community to be equally thrilled about joining the mission to support the children in the Diocese of Evansville, Schnapf said.
She added though the amount of funds they were able to raise is vital to the success of mission projects this year, the focus must remain on the mission.
“We are so thankful for a wonderful partnership and for our diocesan leaders who make the work of MEO a true success,” Schnapf said. “Without our school and diocesan administration, our community of supports and parents, the dollars raised could not be near as impactful as they are. We are immensely blessed in this work.”
The competitors during the bull riding event were Father Droste; Father Garrett Braun, parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Vincennes and St. Philip Neri Parish in Bicknell; Father Alex Zenthoefer, Diocesan Vicar General and rector of St. Benedict Cathedral; Karie Craney, Washington Middle/High School Principal; Aaron Schmitt, Reitz Memorial High School Principal; Jon Temple, Holy Trinity East Campus Principal; Jonathan Day, teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Newburgh; Steve Ricketts, teacher at Westside Catholic School; Maddie Schneider, teacher at St. James School in Haubstadt; Erin Wolford, Pre-K teacher at Christ the King School in Evansville; Todd Schimmell, School Resource Deputy at Corpus Christi School, St. Joe School and Resurrection School, all in Evansville; Josh Reising, Reitz Memorial High School President as the Reitz Memorial Tiger mascot; and Blaine Mayer as the Mater Dei Wildcat mascot.
