SFX's annual "From the Heart" auction receives support from the wider community

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Courtesy of Saint Francis Xavier School

KEARNS

— On Feb. 9 the Saint Francis Xavier School gym was transformed. Usually the site of basketball games, P.E., and lunchtime for St. Francis Xavier students kindergarten through 8th grade, the space became a beautiful banquet and auction hall for the evening.

Each year, St. Francis Xavier hosts the "From the Heart" auction and dinner to invite supporters to donate to their one major fundraiser for the school year. Parents, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and supporters of St. Francis Xavier School gathered for laughter, drinks, delicious food and, above all, generous giving from the heart.

The evening began with a silent auction with hundreds of items generously donated by the wider St. Francis Xavier community.

As the silent auction portion of the evening closed, old and new friends traveled to the beautiful gym lined with donated live auction items. Volunteers served a delicious meal made by Wriggles Catering and Nicholas and Company. The guests were treated to a slideshow of St. Francis students that reminded everyone of the eager, often underprivileged, students who benefited from this fundraising event.

The support was overwhelming. St. Francis hosted 300 people, including some new faces to the St. Francis Xavier community.

Event coordinator Lisa Rose said, "Our goal was to have at least 30 new community members come to support St. Francis through this wonderful event, but that evening, we had over 50 new supporters."

As guests mingled and chatted, and then the much-anticipated live auction began, the gym filled with excitement over wonderful donated items and over the prospect of pitching in to help St. Francis Xavier students. The enthusiasm with which guests bid on items, and gave freely and "from the heart" was awe-inspiring. Ms. Mary Enge, a middle school teacher, said, "It brings tears to my eyes to see this amount of support. Donations large and small were given by so many people for the sake of our students."

St. Francis Xavier School wishes to express their deep gratitude to everyone who attended or donated to this wonderful event and contributed to the success of the students and school community.