The major fundraiser for the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade raised $33,500 for children’s charities over the weekend.
The auction was Saturday evening at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Auction chairwoman Deb Drummet said the total did not reach some of the auction’s best years, but it was in line with others.
“It’s nice to know that people can still help charity even in this economy,” she said.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee events this week include the 5K Shamrock Shuffle at 8 a.m. Saturday at Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. Second St., followed by a dart tournament and chili cook-off at 1 p.m. at Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Mass.
The St. Patrick’s Day Queen Coronation will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Flamingo Club, 501 N. Ninth St.
Money raised in conjunction with the March 17 parade, the auction and other events will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of New York School, Lawrence Parents as Teachers, GaDuGi Safe Center and Lawrence High School’s Positive Support Team.
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cait48 (anonymous) says…
It seems a bit ironic that the auction was held at Corpus Christi and the Coronation will be at the Dirty Bird. It's also ironic that an event honoring women for their contributions to the community is taking place at a venue whose main business is to objectify women sexually. The cultural dissonance here is killing me in more ways than one.
ilovelucy (anonymous) says…
Cait: Regardless of where events are held, this committee has raised over $479,000.00 to benefit children's charities in Douglas County. Every non profit in this town needs our support right now. It seems to me that you would be better off thinking of ways to help charities than to cut down where events are held.
I'm sure you've never met the people that work on this committee. Regardless of what we do for a living, we care enough to work our butts off for 3 months of every year to do something to enrich lives.
This statement of yours is drivel.
cait48 (anonymous) says…
Thanks for the ad hominem attack, Ricky. Raising nearly a half million dollars for children is a good thing. But doing so with the help of people whose living is made on the backs of naked women and pointing that out is far from drivel. The source of "charity" should always be questioned.
ilovelucy (anonymous) says…
Have you ever met the family that owns that club? Do you know how that club is run? Obviously not.
I don't see GaduGi questioning the "source" of charity, or any of the other charities that have been helped over the last 22 years.
It's sad that you judge a family by their business. That family is one of the most charitable families in Lawrence and the majority of people in this town respect them.
So sorry if the cultural dissonance is killing you.
Did_I_say_that (DIST) says…
Cait48 is just continuing her comments from last year, March 2008.
cait48 (Anonymous) says ...
"... one of the things that seriously disturbs me about St. Patrick's Day in this town, the fact that it's most major sponsor is a….strip joint??? Yeah, you heard me right..."
I have worked for one of the major children's services in Lawrence which has been a benefactor of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. I can't say as that any of the children were concerned about how donations were made or from where they came. My memory also recalls donations from Toys for Tots, Douglas County Community Foundation, and a few others. However there is still room for more philanthropy; anyone with reservations about the St. Patty’s Day donations could provide an alternative fund raiser. What do you think Cait48? Are you up to your own challenge?
colicole81 (anonymous) says…
I manage a local non-profit organization and I am involved with multiple charitable organizations including the Lawrence St. Patricks Day commitee. Cait48 is right in saying that "the source of charity should always be questioned". In this case we must question how accepting "charity" from the owner's' of the Flamingo will effect the children we are helping. Essentially that's all that matters .....right? The children are mainly effected because the family that ownsThe Flamingo donates the use of their facility for multiple commitee functions thus saving the commitee money and allowing more money to be given to the children! Yea! Now that I have addressed that issue, cait48, you should re-evaluate your arguement. You make it sound as if the Flamingo is some sort of illegal buisness that forces women to dance naked for profit. These women choose to work as dancers, whether at the Flamingo or somewhere else. Are you truely upset because the owners of the Flamingo are charitable and well respected individuals whose generosity is accepted and appreciated or do you just dislike strippers? I would guess it's the later half since your arguement holds no weight. I thank god that the majority of Lawrencians are not like you! If they were our children would greatly suffer!