I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends.

St. Ann Trivia Night Sponsors

This week's blog is dedicated to my friends who step up to help the students no matter at what school I'm working. Whenever there's a fundraising event, these folks aways step up to help make the event a success. The fundraising event I'm referring to this time is the St. Ann Trivia Night benefiting The Sr. Connie Passing on the Faith Scholarship.

Sr. Connie Tarallo

The purpose of this scholarship is to reward students who are formed and grow in the Catholic faith at St. Ann. The scholarship serves to help those families in financial need as they strive to give their children a Catholic eduction. Our hope is to grow the Sr. Connie Scholarship to where it becomes an endowed scholarship benefiting many families every year.

These fine folks sponsor trivia night by donating gift certificates from their businesses so that we don't use any of the proceeds from trivia night to pay for prizes. Instead, all proceeds go to help our families with tuition assistance from the Sr. Connie Scholarship.

Michael Garibaldi

I want to thank a former student of mine, Fletcher Elkington, who was able to secure gift certificates for trivia night from the Memphis Zoo, Zaka Bowl, and Tamp & Tap. Fletcher did the same thing for the Jubilee Schools and Blue Streak whenever I asked him for help.

My son, Jonathan Aur, is also there to help whenever there is a fundraising event. He was able to get us gift certificates from Sweet Lala's Bakery and Salsa Cocina Mexicana.

DJ and Jamie Naylor
at Celtic Crossing

Anna Slattery contacted her friends, the Garibaldis, and they donated gift certificates to Garibaldi's Pizza. All the Garibaldis are always generous when it comes to helping the children. They know the importance of Catholic education to families and our community.

D.J. and Jamie Naylor, owners of Celtic Crossing, have donated year-in and year-out to so many different non-profit organizations throughout the Memphis area. The Jubilee Schools have been recipients of their philanthropic work for years. We thank them for supporting the Sr. Connie Scholarship.

Ryan Trimm at Sweet Grass

Another former student of mine, Ryan Trimm, is a restauranteur and chef at Sweet Grass and Next Door in Cooper/Young. One of his newest ventures is Sunrise located on Jefferson just west of the medical district. Another of his new ventures is 117 Prime located downtown on Union. Ryan donated gift certificates from Sweet Grass and Sunrise to our event. Thanks Ryan!

Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman

The final gift certificate thank you goes out to St. Ann alum, Andrew Ticer. Along with restaurant partner, Michael Hudman (another former student of mine from CBHS), he donated gift certificates to Hog and Hominy for each member of the winning team. That's the kind of alumni support we need! Thank you Billy Gage for contacting Andrew and making the ask.

For volunteering and making trivia night possible, thank you to:

• Michael Han for serving as our trivia night emcee and writing all of the trivia questions.
• Jane Gillespie, Ashley Gillespie, and Ryan Cooper for being the official trivia scorers.
• Dawn Lewis for driving around town picking up the gift certificates.
• Linda Garvey Meisler for donating many of the door prizes.
• Barbara Norman for donating bottles of wine for door prizes.
• Ellie McGhee and Matthew Brooks for helping to run the auction.
• St. Ann staff members Debra Harty, Kristen Sellers, Tricia Cooper, and LaDonna Metaxas for supporting trivia night.
• Fr. Ernie for participating in and supporting Trivia Night.

Sr. Connie and the Mosteller Family

This event would not have been possible if it weren't for the dedication, passion, and hard work of one person: Annmarie Ghio. She is the one who brought everyone together and made this evening happen. She even donated many of the door prizes. She put a lot of time into making trivia night a success, and it showed. Because of her work, more families will be helped through the Sr. Connie Scholarship.

Winning Trivia Team

This year's trivia night was a sell-out with twenty teams participating. Next year, we move to the gym, set a goal of forty teams competing, have a bigger silent auction, and help even more St. Ann families with tuition assistance.

When you're going on your "Friday Night Date Night," and you get into that "Where do you want to go eat?" discussion, please consider supporting these wonderful folks who support St. Ann. Their restaurants are fantastic, locally owned, and well worth it. Let's support those who support us.

Support St. Ann

If your business would like to support next years' trivia night, please let me know. Every gift we receive helps keep expenses down with more donations going to the Sr. Connie Scholarship.

To all those who participated in St. Ann Trivia Night, thank you. Hope to see you at this event next year.

God bless you,
Didier Aur, Principal
St. Ann Catholic School