St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities in New Albany annual gala set for April 18, online auction bidding begins on April 2

Criterion staff report

St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities (SECC) in New Albany will host its annual Giving Hope ~ Changing Lives gala at The Galt House, 140 N. Fourth St., in Louisville, from 5:30-9 p.m. on April 18.

All are invited to this free event, which will include a cash bar. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m., with client testimonials, videos and a live auction included in the event.

Live auction items range in value from $2,000-$6,500, including a one-week stay at a cottage in Florida, an autographed “Colts Legends” helmet, an autographed Beatles album, an autographed Masters flag, one-day PGA championship tickets, a weekend trip to New York for a Broadway play, and a house concert with Grammy-winning songwriter Frank Myers.

Registration to attend the gala is required by April 3. To register, contact Cathy Reid at creid@stecharities.org or 812-949-7305.

An online, pre-gala auction will open for bidding on April 2 at bidpal.net/stegala2024, with a focus on premium items from April 11-18. Auction items include a premium bourbon basket, rounds of golf at several local courses, a Kentucky Derby Through the Years basket, a $450 kids’ electronics basket, a Total Wine and More wine class valued at more than $600, and more. Other auction items include tickets to experiences in Indiana and Kentucky such as Abbey Road on the River, Kentucky Science Center, Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Kingdom, Belle of Louisville, Derby Dinner Play House, Holiday World, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Beach, Indianapolis Zoo and more.

The event helps support St. Elizabeth Catholic Charities’ five umbrellas of programs:

• Housing, including a maternity home, domestic violence transitional housing and rapid rehousing, a women and children’s emergency shelter and Affordable Supportive Housing (ASH) units. Last year, these programs assisted 346 women faced with homelessness and 189 women and children needing shelter and support.

• Adoption Bridges of Kentuckiana, serving pregnant women considering adoption for their baby and parents seeking to adopt. Last year, this program assisted with 33 birth parent inquiries.

• Marie’s Blessings Community Distribution Program, offering free, gently used mother/baby and household items for families in need, serving 1,045 families last year.

• Supported Living Program, providing help to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Floyd and Clark counties, empowering them to lead more independent lives. Last year, volunteers contributed 7,130 hours of support to these individuals.

• School Counseling, with four counselors currently serving five Catholic schools in Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties.
 

For more information on these services, go to stecharities.org or call 812-949-7305. †