ABCD Broward Dinner Acknowledges Donors
Lauren B. Angueira
 

Donors enjoy dinner and a speech from Archbishop Thomas Wenski.


As you know, if you bring an umbrella it won’t rain,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski on Wednesday, December 11, as he opened the program for the Archdiocese of Miami’s 2014 Broward Archbishop’s Charities Drive Dinner (ABCD). The Dinner, which took place at the Sheehan Autoplex in Lighthouse Point, Fl, was relocated from its original venue for fear of Florida’s unpredictable weather.
Originally to be hosted by Carl and Marlene Coppola, the Dinner became a joint venture between the Coppola’s and Tom and Catherine Sheehan. Both families are donors to the ABCD Drive and patrons of Archdiocese of Miami parishes.
Yet, despite the change in location, no detail was spared. The spacious Sheehan Buick dealership transformed into an elegant seated dining area complete with music and an outside cocktail reception.
Guests were encouraged to be photographed with Archbishop Thomas Wenski and enjoy the company of their fellow supporters before a sit-down dinner was served and the program began. The program included speeches from Katie Blanco Crocquet, Chief Development Officer and President of the Development Corporation, Archbishop Thomas Wenksi, and Marie Ludwick, Weight Watchers Canada founder.  The 2014 ABCD video also premiered ahead of its parish debut to an attentive and receptive audience.

Archbishop Wenski pictured with host Tom Sheehan.


 
“We are here because of you and to thank you,” said the Archbishop before detailing the impact that those funds raised by the ABCD Drive and donated by the guests in attendance had over the past year.
 
One of the timeliest and globally impacting roles that this year’s donations had included ministry to seafarers at the Port of Miami and Port Everglades, many of which originate from the Philippines.  After Typhoon Haiyan, those seafarers found themselves in need of priests whose missions at the ports are funded by ABCD.
 
The 2014 ABCD Drive, scheduled to begin in January, is a parish-wide call to action throughout the Archdiocese of Miami’s three counties: Broward, Dade and Monroe.  The donations received from this drive support many programs within the Archdiocese including parish ministries, parish financial assistance, youth outreach, the seminary, and the ministry of Archbishop and Bishops.
 
“Everything we have comes from God and we have an obligation to share,” said Ludwick, closing the program with a renewed call to give.
 
 

Marie Ludwick addressing a renewed call to give.