On the Town: Harvest Ball honors faithful at fundraiser
For the 13th time, parishioners and supporters of Burbank’s Saint Finbar Parish School gathered to bestow Harvester of Faith awards at their Harvest Ball fundraiser held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center this past Friday evening.
The annual event, which raises funds to upgrade facilities and help the families and children of Saint Finbar Parish School who are in need of tuition assistance, recognizes individuals who have shown extraordinary leadership, inspiration, motivation, compassion and dedication to the school and parish community.
This year saw Harvester of Faith awards presented to local Realtor Mike Napolitano and 18-year-old Saint Finbar parishioner Olivia Menke, who miraculously survived a traumatic brain injury as a result of a devastating automobile accident that almost claimed her life this past summer.
During the gala, Napolitano was lauded as a man of deep faith and commitment for his instrumental service to the parish by the church’s senior pastor Fr. Francis Mendoza. who also praised Menke as a gifted and talented young lady who is a living testament to the miracles God works in the lives of those who live in faith.
“May we be inspired to stand in faith and courage as this evening’s honorees have done for us,” Mendoza said.
The ball, which also posthumously honored the life of Napolitano’s late wife, Barbara, who died in November 2014, was made possible by the leadership of former Burbank Mayor Michael Hastings, who has chaired the event since its inception, and his committee comprised of Lucy Platner, Mary Greer, Rebecca Platner, Allison Knowles, Erica Menke, Katie Roth and Stephanie Jonke.
Others whose work, dedication and sponsorship saw to the event’s success included Vic and Sue Georgino, Calamigos at the Equestrian Center, the Cusumano Real Estate Group, Dilbeck Real Estate, Lauren Ciulla, Michele Ramos, Maria Robone, Robert Leitao, Lupe Thompson and Kathy Hastings.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance at the ball were Saint Finbar’s Associate Pastor Fr. Chris Bazyouros, former Burbank Mayors Marsha Ramos and Anja Renike and Police Chief Scott LaChasse.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
