Catholic Charities of Orange County (CCOC) recently hosted a successful night of fun, celebration and fellowship. Following a four-year hiatus, the nonprofit’s 34th Mardi Gras Gala returned on Feb. 10 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL’S MARIACHI BAND GREETED GUESTS AT CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY’S 34TH MARDI GRAS GALA HELD ON FEB. 10. PHOTOS BY DREW KELLEY/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
As guests entered the stunning Balboa Bay Resort, they were greeted by St. Anne Catholic School’s Mariachi band along with Mardi Gras stilt walkers.
The night began with the parade of honorees entering the ballroom, to the playful tunes of the Mater Dei High School Jazz band. They were Vincent and Michele Cortes; Alan Smith and Joan Steen; the Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Vann; CCOC’s executive director, Ellen Roy; and CCOC’s board of trustees.
Mariajose Garorti, CCOC’s director of communications and development, gave a warm welcome to all those who came out to support Catholic Charities.
“Tonight, is a celebration of stewardship, a tribute to charitable works and a testament to the power of community,” she told the crowd.
Mark Jablonski, CCOC’s former chairman of the board and current chief mission integration officer at St. Jude Medical Center, spoke about the amazing work of CCOC, including its Cantlay Food Distribution Center and New Hope Counseling Services.
Jablonski also formally introduced CCOC’s new chairman of the board, Fr. Mike Rizzo, retired lawyer and parochial vicar at Corpus Christi parish in Aliso Viejo, who expressed gratitude for his new role.
Guests also had the joy of seeing a dignified presentation of colors performed by St. Catherine’s Academy.
Bishop Vann then led the invocation and Grace before dinner, giving thanks for another wonderful year of CCOC providing help, creating hope and serving all.
BISHOP VANN ADDRESSES ATTENDEES DURING CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ORANGE COUNTY’S MARDI GRAS GALA.
“On behalf of Catholic Charities of Orange County and the entire Mardi Gras Gala 2024 organizing committee, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to this year’s gala,” said Bishop Vann. “After almost four years we gather again for the Mardi Gras Gala, it’s a blessing to have all of you here today.”
The night continued with CCOC’s executive director, Ellen Roy, congratulating and awarding the night’s honorees Vincent and Michele Cortes, and Alan Smith and Joan Steen with engraved awards made of jade glass.
Impactful videos featuring Vincent and Michele and their passion for helping their local community, and how Joan and Alan transformed the parking lot of the Cantlay Food Distribution Center into a sustainable above ground garden known as the Garden of Hope, were played during the awards presentations.
A live auction followed. Items included a six-night stay at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; six nights at the Park Plaza Resort in Park City, Utah; dinner at Bishop Vann’s house prepared by renowned executive chef Jessica Roy; a Northgate Gonzalez Market tequila tasting and dinner with Bishop Freyer; a helicopter experience with Deacon Pete Morales; and a Polo Experience hosted by Farmers and Merchants Bank at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.
Guests were encouraged to support the work of CCOC’s New Hope Counseling Services, which provides on-site counseling services for students in nine of our local Catholic schools. A single donation of $1,000 provides 40 counseling sessions for an adult or child. Donors who gave $500 or more towards counseling services received a special bear with a CCOC-branded bandana. For every bear given, a child attending a local Catholic school received a bear as well, symbolizing the solidarity of the donor with the lives of the children they were helping.
The gala proved to be a great success, with close to 350 in attendance. All proceeds benefit New Hope Counseling Services, whose mission is to provide children with the mental health support they need during challenging times.
To donate in support of CCOC’s New Hope Counseling Services, text NEWHOPECS to 41444 or visit ccoc.org/donate/donate-online