St. Edward Wings Fundraiser 4/29/17

St. Edward hosted its annual Wing event, this year featuring a Motown theme. Hundreds of volunteers spent thousands of hours planning, promoting, collecting auction items, and decorating in preparation for the event. 200 St. Edward students were among the many volunteers that worked on event night.


"Magnificent" is how Principal Frank O'Linn described the evening. President James Kubacki thanked the volunteers, donors, and staff for their support of the event. Both men singled out VP of Institutional Advancement Colleen Kiely, who guided the entire process over the past few months.

(click photo to enlarge)

  • The 20th annual wings fundraiser brought Motown to Detroit Avenue. Volunteers remade the school's main entrance into a replica of the actual Motown building in Detroit.

  • Vintage cars were parked on the lawn to help set the nostagic mood.

  • St. Edward Director of Service and Outreach Richard Kubrack and dozens of students provided valet service as attendees arrived.

  • Lot of attendees and volunteers wore retro outfits of the 60s and 70s.

  • The main hallway from the school lobby to the gym was transformed into a time tunnel of Motown Era memories. This table contains artifacts from the era.   

  • Hundreds of hours were spent transforming the gym into a Motown-themed ballroom.  

  • The event featured both a live and silent auctions. Among the prizes was this "instant wine cellar" containing dozens of bottles. Wine donors to the event included Ward 4 Council Rep Dan O'Malley.

  • There were auction items to fit all tastes and interests. They included art work, dining, and travel experiences.  

  • There were numerous sports memorabilia items, ranging from our local professional teams to a spirit basket of Butler Bulldog gear.   

  • Jerseys for all seasons!

  • These fabulously dressed music students performed the school alma mater at the end of the auction.  

  • Volunteers made many decorations, including this Jackson 5 sign.

  • The event kicked off with a dance performance by School President James Kubacki and Wings committee chairs. Kubacki annually arrives at the Wings event in a fun costume....it gives the crowd a laugh and sets a festive mood for the evening.

     

  • "I'm keeping my day job", Kubacki said when asked about turning his group into a boy band.

  • After the fun, Kubacki thanked the staff, volunteers, donors, and attendees that made the event possible.    

  • This Nate Thurmond signed basketball was among many Cavs items up for auction.

  • This Chuck Berry photo was one of many music themed items. Berry passed on a few weeks before the event.

  • Among the artwork were pieces from local painter Shaun Kinley. This work, "Definitely Cleveland", is a collage of seven of his paintings.  

  • This Shaun Kinley print is titled "The Block". If you're a Cleveland sports fan, you know the story.  

  • Perhaps the most interesting auction item of the evening was this tour of the salt mines under Lake Erie.

  • This event drew the largest crowd in Wings history.

  • Cheer coach Gretchen Toddy Ludwick was among the many staff members at the event. She assisted with the live auction portion of the program.   

  • Attendees had a fun night of food, music and friendship.

  • Big collars were a common sight among the 60s and 70s dressed crowd. #groovy #outasight

  • The band has their instruments and are ready to play the alma mater.

  • Principal Frank O'Linn chose a 70s theme for his outfit. "This is magnificent," he said, "a great celebration of 20 years."

  • Students served dinner to the guests. They returned at the closing of the auction to thank the guests and cheer on their contributions.

  • After the fundraising activities were complete, a Motown band provided live music for dancing.  

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