Principal R. J. Kaplan and his wife, Monica, attended the the “Hooray for Hollywood” auction on Saturday, March 3, at St. Pius X School in Flint. Courtesy photo
By Dan McAvoy
The Catholic Times
FLINT — The fifth annual “Hooray for Hollywood Dinner Auction” on Saturday, March 3, raised more than $50,000 for technology, programs and resources at St. Pius X School.
Last year’s auction raised more than $35,000.
Bids are placed during the auction, which was in St. Pius X School's gym.
“We have been changing out chalkboards and white boards for Promethean Boards over the last few years,” said Principal R.J. Kaplan. “They are awesome instructional tools for 21st-century learning.”
Among the items up for auction this year were a Detroit Red Wings Jersey signed by Pavel Datsyuk, a trip to Chicago, a complete wine tasting party, dinner for eight with Chef Howie from Blackstone’s and tickets to the “Live with Kelly” television show.
“It was the biggest and best event we have had to date,” said Kaplan. “The best of the last five years.”
“Each year, I am pleasantly surprised that this all comes together,” said Fr. Robert Copeland, the pastor of St. Pius X Parish. “I shouldn’t be surprised that our volunteer parents pull this off.”
Kaplan said the auction also is a way to thank the local businesses for their support.
“Supporting the local businesses is of major importance to our school and community,” he said. “They have given us so much over the past few years and we need to support the businesses in this community.”
Kaplan said the idea for the auction came from school mothers. “These special people met five years ago at a local coffee shop and came up with an idea,” said Kaplan. “they wanted to have an auction to raise money for their school because the school was struggling financially.”
The auction has grown every year since 2008.