The 2009 Sacred Heart School Winter Banquet last Saturday set a new record. The Winter Banquet raised $58,700 for the Catholic school in Adams. A year ago, the 2008 Winter Banquet raised the old record: $56,700.

Both are net figures or the proceeds after the bills were paid, i.e., the money that actually went into Sacred Heart’s general fund.

“I realized that this was going to be a success after we sold 40 tickets the last week,” said Peggy Schmitz, one of the chairpersons of the event. “I thought the economy might have an impact on the auction, but our supporters, some of whom do not belong to Sacred Heart or St. John’s, support Sacred Heart School unconditionally.

“We sold tickets to many ‘first-time’ buyers and attendees,” Schmitz said. “We hope they had a great time and will join us again next year.”

The Winter Banquet depends on support from both Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams as well as St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Johnsburg. Schmitz said even “strangers” or first-time attendees quickly become immersed in the unique “atmosphere” enveloping the event each February.

“My parents were able to attend the auction and events this year,” she said. “They are from West St. Paul.

“They were astounded how we can pull of such an event of this magnitude and raise the funds we do,” Schmitz said. “They enjoy coming to visit us in Adams and love the atmosphere and the ‘feeling’ they have when they are here.”

It’s no secret there were worries before the 2009 event that the economy would stifle the generosity of bidders.

That didn’t happen.

The silent auction held Saturday afternoon also enjoyed remarkable success, according to Shari Heimer, a volunteer. “Everything went really well,” she said.

Jim Sathre returned as the auctioneer for the Saturday night Winter Banquet events and whipped the 210 guests in attendance into a spending frenzy.

One pie donated by Bubbles’ Cafe (Jan Heller’s business) will be talked about for years to come.

The creme cheese and raisin pie was rebid 23 times. Each time, some one claimed the pie with the highest bid, the bidder returned it for immediate re-bidding.

On the 23rd time this was done, Connie Hoff was the high bidder and kept the pie.

Before the night-time events, the Rev. James Seitz, parish priest at Adams and Johnsburg, asked for a moment of silence in honor of Thomas P. Mullenbach, a long-time volunteer at the annual fundraiser.

He died the preceding Friday evening to the banquet.

Fingers crossed and prayers said, it was “on with the show” and high expectations for a successful live auction.

Whatever happened next made Sacred Heart Winter Banquet history: $58,700 raised for the school.

“I think the most important thing out of all of this is that we all worked

together for a common goal,” Schmitz said. “Every parent and student helped in some way as

well as many members of the parishes and community; too many to name them all.”

The Winter Banquet is one of two fundraisers held each year on behalf of the school. The other is a bikeathon in the Fall.

The volunteers are not resting on their laurels after setting a fundraising record.

“The committee is still looking for new members for next year,” Schmitz said. “We

believe there is room for improvement and welcome new ideas.”

Volunteers should be forewarned: They will be called upon to equal or surpass the previous year’s fundraising success, so important is Catholic education to the families.

“There is a lot of time spent putting the event together,” Schmitz said. “When one sees the fruits of their labor we can thank God for all he has blessed us with.”