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‘Race for Success’

—Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Adri Sietstra Hy-Vee gave a check for $1,500 to St. Thomas Aquinas on Thursday morning at St. Thomas Aquinas. The money will go towards the 2017 St. Thomas Aquinas Ball, which will be held on Saturday, May 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Center. Pictured above from left to right are St. Thomas Aquinas Principal Duane Siepker, Heidi Tesdahl,volunteer, Erin Henderson, St. Thomas preschool teacher and Hy-Vee employee, Nicole Bryant, Hy-Vee Perishables Manager, and Aaron Tacker, Webster City Hy-Vee Store Director.

St. Thomas Aquinas will be hosting the 2017 St. Thomas Aquinas Ball on Saturday, May 6. This year’s theme is “Race for Success” and is centered around the Kentucky Derby. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and end at midnight.

The evening will entail a social hour, live and silent auctions, heads or tails game, and a grand prize drawing.

Entertainment will be provided by The Dueling Pianos of Andy Anderson & Mike Leeds.

Ball tickets cost $50 a person. The ticket price includes two complimentary drink tickets, dinner and dessert, and entertainment. Only 300 tickets will be sold to the ball. Organizers encourage those who wish to attend to call ahead and reserve tickets.

“If somebody wants to donate to either our silent or live auction or buy a raffle ticket, they can do that,” said Heidi Tesdahl, a volunteer for the St. Thomas Aquinas Ball. “The winner of the raffle does not have to be present that night to win.”

Raffle tickets are $50 each or individuals can buy three tickets for $125. Raffle prizes include a grand prize of $10,000, second prize of $2,000, and third prize of $1,000 in SCRIP gift cards.

Individuals interested in buying ball and raffle tickets can contact the school office at St. Thomas Aquinas at (515) 832-1346. Individuals can also contact the office to donate auction items.

“I think people should come to the ball because it’s just a fun night and it’s supporting the school and there’s not a lot of opportunity in a town our size to have great entertainment and a fun night out,” said Tesdahl.

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches preschool-aged children through sixth grade. Money raised will be go towards the school for education purposes.

“We opened our doors in 1952, so this is our 65th year of serving students in Webster City and the surrounding area,” said St. Thomas Aquinas Principal Duane Siepker. “We offer a choice in education, not as an antagonist to the public school, but as a partner in the total educational program. We have a great relationship with the Webster City Community Schools.”

The annual ball is the school’s main fundraiser for a third of the income the school receives.

“We have three essential sources of income for the school. One third of our income comes from tuition. One third comes from the Parish…the final third comes from resources like the ball, third-source income,” said Siepker. “The ball is our key revenue source when it comes to third-source income.”

According to Siepker, the public and community has always supported the ball and its cause.

“I am extremely pleased how Webster City and the surrounding area support the ball,” Siepker said. “I’m just overwhelmed at the support we get for our school and I think it shows that the people in the community and the surrounding area realize how important it is for them to have a choice in education and to be able to come and have a good time as well,” said Siepker.

“It’s just a really fun night,” said Tesdahl. “We have a good time and celebrate the kids and the cause.”

“It’s a night out,” Siepker said. “We have good eats, entertainment, a live and silent auction. Just a lot of wonderful things going on that evening.”

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