Event organizers were thrilled again this year with the tremendous outpouring of support during the Holy Rosary Gala held on Saturday, Jan. 26.The annual dinner and auction are held to raise funds for Holy Rosary School, 716 E. Booneslick Road, Warrenton. This year’s efforts will provide substantial support for the growing learning environment, according to Event Coordinator Sonia McNeely.Early figures indicate that the Gala raised around $70,000.“There’s been a great outpouring from the community to help our school, and we are so grateful,” said McNeely, who is also a teacher. “The community has seen the change in our school and values we instill in our students. They’re all coming together and working as a team.”The funds raised through the Gala help with a multitude of needs, helping to offset tuition costs and make it possible for more students to attend.“The money from the Gala goes to the general operating fund for the school, which covers everything from heat and lights, to helping pay teacher salaries, to maintenance of the building,” said McNeely, “everything it takes to run the school.”The support from the Gala has opened the doors for more students to have access to the private education offered by Holy Rosary.“It cuts our tuition in half for our families,” said McNeely. “If we didn’t do this event, the tuition for our families could double. It makes us one of the most affordable schools in the area.”With that, Holy Rosary has become one of the fastest growing schools in the St. Louis Archdiocese, with a current enrollment of 149 students.“Our numbers have grown so much, we’re not going to anticipate having any more combined classrooms,” said McNeely, who explains that multiple grade levels have shared a room in the past. “Starting next year we plan on having the grades in all their own classrooms.”The school is in the process of determining how to renovate part of its current space to allow for an additional classroom. A specific fundraiser was held just to raise money for those renovations, drawing about $7,500 toward the effort.Among the highest bids at the Gala was $3,000 toward a “Party on the Prairie,” which included dinner and a hayride for a large group, and $2,800 for a party bus wine tour. All told, 204 items were auctioned off during the evening.

The annual Holy Rosary Gala held Saturday, Jan. 26, raised about $70,000 to go toward school improvements, supplies, teacher salaries and other needs. Pictured, from left, Mike Messenger and Shelley Karam visit with Jill and Mike Brown.

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe