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This Friday night, MacDonell Children’s Services will celebrate 100 years of service at its annual fundraiser — this year named, “Celebrating Our Past, Creating Futures” — at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd. in Houma. The doors for the celebration open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 6:30 p.m.
“This event is going to be such a special evening, celebrating 100 years of caring for children in need. The needs may have changed through the years, starting as a French Mission in 1919, to where it has evolved into today as another option for children that have been taken from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect, placed in foster care, and that did not work,” said Heidi Pellegrin, Resource Development Coordinator at MacDonell. “We step in and offer another option to address the behaviors caused from their former circumstances, while providing a loving, nurturing, stable environment.”
At this exciting benefit, attendees will get to try a delicious assortment of food provided by nearly 20 local restaurants, businesses and individuals: Castalano’s Catering; Big Mike’s BBQ Smokehouse; Subway sandwiches, donated by Danny and Terez Leblanc; Chick-fil-A of Houma; Rouses Markets; Walk-On’s of Houma; Bella Cosa Catering; Tito’s Catering/Canter Lawn Service; Song Phi Nong Thai Restaurant; The Shack; Dig Construction; Fremin’s Restaurant; Copeland’s of Houma; Rendezvous Dining, Catering and Events; Off the Hook of Houma; La Carreta of Houma; and P3 Global.
There will be live and silent auctions that include such big-ticket items/occasions as Saints tickets, a 7-night vacation stay, Cannata’s wine tasting for a group of 16, wine dinner for four at Dominique’s Wine Boutique & Bistro and original art by Sarah K Kreations. Other objects such as baking and gardening tools, gift baskets and other bid-worthy items will be up for auction as well.
Corporate America — a rock, R&B, soul and funk band from New Orleans — will keep guests groovin’ throughout the night.
MacDonell will honor two individuals at the celebration. Carlie Hay — who started her first nonprofit while she was in 8thgrade — will receive the MacDonell Children’s Services Youth Advocacy Award. Dianne Williams — Business Administrator for the organization for 20 years, who put in a significant amount of volunteer hours for MacDonell over the years — will be given the Ella K. Hooper Award, named after the organization’s founder.
The fundraiser will feature and commemorate the history of the MacDonell organization.
“…It will also be a special night of celebrating the woman who started all of this, Ms. Ella Hooper, and The United Methodist Women — to whom we are forever grateful,” Pellegrin said.
Tickets for the event are $60 and can be reserved by calling 985-868-8362 or emailing Pellegrin at hpellegrin@macdonellchildren.org. Platinum, diamond and emerald-level table sponsorships are also available for purchase.
Donations can also be made through the organization’s website: macdonellchildren.org.
“Without the public’s kindness and generosity, we could not continue making sure these children are given every opportunity to experience some sense of home and stability that every child deserves.That is what we strive for daily,” Pellegrin said. “I urge everyone to come out and make a difference in these children’s lives.”
