Under the Mistletoe

By Richard Mineards   |   December 7, 2017
Evening's auctioneer John Palmiteri, co-chair Carol Wathen; Terii and Dr. John Keating, with Misteltoe Ball co-chair Debbie Saucedo (photo by Priscilla)
At the 26th Annual Mistletoe Ball is reverend Lawrence Seyer thanking the generous support from Charlie Alva and guest Marion Montgomery (photo by Priscilla)

Balloonacy reigned at the Coral Casino’s La Pacifica ballroom where hundreds of balloons festooned the ceiling of the oceanside hotspot for the 26th annual Catholic Charities Mistletoe Ball, which attracted 217 guests and raised around $100,000 for the 93-year-old organization serving 44,000 people with an annual budget of $1.8 million.

The Yuletide beano, co-chaired by Carol Wathen and Debbie Saucedo, honored my Journal colleague Erin Graffy and her psychologist husband, James Paul Garcia, as community stars, presented by Anne Towbes.

Neal Graffy emceed the bustling bash, while regional director Dan Grimm introduced guest speaker Los Angeles author and theologian Bishop Robert Barron after a prayer from charismatic Mission monk Larry Gosselin.

KEYT-TV senior reporter John Palminteri auctioned off a number of items, including an Old Spanish Days Fiesta Frolic, a week’s vacation in Portland, Oregon, and a skiing sojourn in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Among the tony throng turning out to support the cause were Charlie Alva, Hiroko Benko, Terry Ryken, Ricardo Calderon, Hal and Haley Conklin, Missy DeYoung, Lynn Kirst, Ralph and Diana MacFarlane, Tom and Eileen Mielko, Julian Nott and Anne Luther, Tony and Sabrina Papa, Christopher Toomey, and Dana Hansen.

In support of Catholic Charities are Daniel Grimm doing the introductions, with presentations by Anne Towbes to celebrate Community Stars honorees Erin Graffy and Dr. James Paul Garcia (photo by Priscilla)
Patrons Alyce Boyd, Karol Schulkin, Marya Barr, Charlie Johnson, David Boyd, Paula Johnson, David Fustafson, Nancy Gustafson, Kelstan O’Donnell, Barbara Kummer, and table host John Fowler (photo by Priscilla)
 

You might also be interested in...

Advertisement
  • Woman holding phone

    Support the
    Santa Barbara non-profit transforming global healthcare through telehealth technology