February 17, 2006

SPRED to host dinner dance fundraiser

By Sean Gallagher

The archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education’s Special Religious Education program (SPRED) will host a dinner dance fundraiser on March 18 at the Marten House Hotel, 1801 W. 86th St., in Indianapolis.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with dinner served at 7 p.m. and dancing starting at 8 p.m.

Veronica Wyld, the archdiocesan coordinator for the program that serves the religious education needs for Catholics with special needs, said the event, which also includes a silent auction, is the primary annual fundraiser for SPRED.

Tickets to the event cost $50 per person and must be purchased by March 4.

Occurring the day after St. Patrick’s Day, this year’s dinner dance will have an Irish theme. Kevin Gregory, chief meteorologist for WRTV Channel 6 in Indianapolis, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Wyld said participants in all the SPRED groups in the archdiocese ordinarily attend, and come from parishes in and around Indianapolis, Richmond and Batesville.

“The dance floor is packed,” she said. “We are wall-to-wall. Once the music starts, that’s just the highlight of the evening. It is so fun to see people out there dancing.”

In addition to supporting SPRED financially through the purchase of fundraiser tickets or participation in its silent auction, Wyld said the event is an opportunity for supporters to bring Catholics with special needs in the archdiocese more into the life of their parishes.

“There are so many people with special needs in our archdiocese who don’t have the opportunity to be involved in the community life of their parish,” Wyld said. “We see SPRED as the best way for people with special needs to become involved, not only in the liturgical part of their parish, but also in the community life of their parish.

“People who ... come to the dance support that,” Wyld said. “They allow more individuals to become part of their parish communities, to be connected.”

(To purchase tickets for the March 18 SPRED dinner dance fundraiser or for more information, call 800-382-9836, ext. 1448, or 317-236-1448.) †

 

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