Luncheon provides fun, fashion and charitable funds

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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The fashion show is a tradition at the annual Catholic Womans' League luncheon.

SALT LAKE CITY — The annual Catholic Woman’s League benefit luncheon drew women of all ages from throughout the diocese to the Little America Hotel on Oct. 14 for an afternoon of socializing and a fashion show, with the funds benefiting St. Marguerite School’s new playground and Volunteers of America, Utah’s Homeless Youth Resource Center.

“Your ministry is quite special,” said Bishop Oscar A. Solis in his welcoming remarks.

He complimented the women for their tradition of responding to those who are in need.

“You are the face of Christ in our world today when you reach out to share the love of Christ, especially with those who are poor and needy,” he said.

The CWL, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, “works for the interest of Christ, promotes spirituality based on the principles of our Catholic faith, advances literacy and educational interest, and assists in philanthropic efforts for the welfare of our community,” according to its mission statement.

During the luncheon, representatives of the two beneficiaries spoke. Both thanked the CWL members for their donation, and gave a brief overview of their organization.

Lorena Needham, St. Marguerite principal, explained that the school obtained playground equipment for $10 from the nearby East Elementary School, which was scheduled for demolition. In three days, more than 100 volunteers moved the six basketball courts and a large piece of playground equipment from one school to the other, Needham said.

To raise funds to install the equipment, the community obtained a $17,000 grant, sold 3,000 chocolate bars and hundreds of breakfast burritos for parishioners, Needham said. Volunteers completed the installation a few months ago, but the landscaping has yet to be completed, and furnishings for the outdoor classrooms also are needed; the donation from the CWL will go toward these needs, she said.

The Homeless Youth Resource Center run by Volunteers of America, Utah, served 700 youth between the ages of 15 and 22 last year, the first year of operation, said Kathy Bray, president/CEO of VOA, Utah.

The resource center provides emergency beds, meals and clothing to the youth, as well as other services to eliminate barriers to self-reliance, Bray said.

“We are helping youth increase their education, get higher-paying jobs, and move the community into apartments,” she said. “The main focus of that new facility is to help youth get out of homelessness as soon as possible so they don’t become chronically homeless adults, and they can live out the dreams that they have, because they are still dreaming. ”

After the presentations by the beneficiaries, the luncheon continued with the traditional fashion show. This year, the fashions were presented by Amy Boutique. The models were mother/daughter duos who are members of the CWL and their families.