Retirement fund gets $520,000 boost

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Final figures for the Sept. 9 gala dinner aimed at boosting the Edmonton Archdiocesan Priests' Retirement Fund shows the event exceeded even its own high expectations.

The event raised a "staggering" $520,951, says a news release from the event's organizing committee. "This was, by far, the largest fundraising event in the history of the Archdiocese of Edmonton."

The figure includes money raised through tickets sales, live and silent auctions and more than $200,000 in individual and corporate donations. More than 1,300 people attended the $300-a-plate dinner.

The original goal was $400,000 and immediately following the dinner organizers said the figure could go as high as $475,000.

"The Catholic community really came out and this shows the support they have for our clergy and the respect they have for the clergy," Randy Yatscoff, head of the gala's organizing committee, said Oct. 31.

"We could have sold many more tickets. We had so many ticket requests we had to turn people down at the end."

He said the funds would have two impacts. "It will immediately cover part of the (retirement fund's $2 million) deficit and, secondly, it is going to make people aware of the need for donations to the Priests' Retirement Fund.

"What I heard is that the average weekly donations and separate donations to the Retirement Fund have increased."

Yatscoff said the event's success is due to a team approach.

"It wasn't one person; it was everyone working together as a team and we were successful that way. Father Mike's (McCaffery) involvement was very important. He was an inspiration to us but everyone did their job."

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