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Lawrence’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is on Deb Drummet’s mind year-round.

It’s not because she’s red-headed and admits to having a bit of a temper. And it’s not because she fell in love with Ireland, its people and Guinness on her first visit there four years ago.

It’s because she chairs the parade’s benefit auction committee.

“I’m adopted and not sure of my ancestry but have always felt in tune with Ireland,” she says.

“I love the parade and what it’s able to do for this community. I’ve been on the committee since 1990, and I’m considered one of the ‘respected elders,’” Drummet says. “I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and help with different events, but my main role is the annual auction.”

Once the auction’s over, her office at Capital City Bank, where she’s assistant vice president, begins to fill with next year’s auction items.

“I’m fortunate my employers understand and encourage volunteerism and community service, and let me keep auction donations in my office,” she says.

The auction, like the parade and supporting events, continues to grow.

“The first auction (in the Eldridge basement) was a karaoke night with a few items for people to bid on,” she recalls. “When we made $1,000 I thought we’d hit the big-time. The auction now nets around $35,000 to benefit local children’s charities. It never fails to amaze me that even in tough economic times this community still rallies to support our cause.”

Drummet’s move to Lawrence and into the banking world was unplanned. She was raised in Nebraska, where she was involved in cheerleading and the arts. Community services included running projects to raise money for African missionaries.

Encouraged by her high school theater teacher, Joe Krause, Drummet got a scholarship to Marymount College in Salina and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in drama in 1980.

“I intended to work in the entertainment field but knew I didn’t have a talent for accents. I’m too much of a Midwesterner,” she says. “I’d supported myself through college by working at Salina Bicentennial Center, became box-office manager and thought I’d stay there since I loved working with people and money.”

When friends invited her to Lawrence in 1980, Drummet decided to stay, took a customer services job at Commerce Bank, then moved banks and to work with mortgages at her mentor Edie Dreiling’s invitation.

“Never in a million years was it something I planned, but it’s worked out great for me,” she says. “I absolutely love Lawrence and working at Capital.”

Drummet also loves being involved in the parade and its fundraising activities. This year’s recipients are Family Promise, the Lawrence Humane Society’s school program, Van Go Mobile Arts, Women’s Transitional Care Services and Douglas County’s CASA.

“What started in 1988 as a small parade organized by local businessmen and their friends from ABC has grown into a larger communitywide event to benefit local children,” she says.

“It’s exciting, great fun and challenging to pull it all together, but we’ve a wonderful crew of people who work hard to make it happen every year.”

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