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February 21, 2019On March 2, El Reno’s Sacred Heart Catholic Schools will host its annual Taste of Sacred Heart that attracts more than 500 people and has gained in popularity. It is El Reno’s major fundraising event for its school. The Taste of Sacred Heart will include food tasting booths, a $3,000 raffle, plus live and silent auctions.
Fun is the major theme of the program. One year, the program auctioned off the chance not to take home a goat. Ken Reding, a Sacred Heart graduate, is a well-known auctioneer and has donated his established skills to the annual event. In the history of the event, the most lucrative auction item was a dinner for six for $10,000.
Tricia Hobson said The Taste of Sacred Heart in its early form started in 1996 as a small school organized party auction. Pool parties, birthday parties and other fun activities for students were auctioned off to help raise money for the newly re-opened Catholic school.
The second principal for the school, Lois Jeffrey, then fine-tuned the program by adding food tasting booths. The early days of the program had about 100 people in attendance and raised about $10,000.
The program has grown to well over 500 in attendance and generates more than $100,000 for Sacred Heart Catholic School and is the major fundraiser for the school.
The program now has 20-25 food booths manned by parishioners and volunteers, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, the Altar Society and corporate sponsors. In addition, classrooms supply themed “baskets” to guests.
The principal of Sacred Heart School, Shannon Statton, said, “The Taste of Sacred Heart is financially critical to our school because it provides a large portion of our school budget. The event also is critical to our community to share in a night of fellowship and fun celebrating Catholic education.”
Charles Albert is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
