Norfolk Daily News Article

How can a small-town private-parochial school survive without the help of major public funding when it takes over a million dollars every year to run such an institution? The answer to this question can be found in Humphrey≠s own private-parochial school, St. Francis.

Running a school is a very expensive operation. This is a big concern for private schools that benefit from little or possibly no government funding. Humphrey St. Francis is very fortunate to receive textbook loans from sponsored by the State Government and administered by its neighboring school, Humphrey Public. This takes off the load of paying approximately $8,000 a year on textbooks. Special education and Title services for St. Francis students are also provided by Humphrey Public School, as well as bus service and construction, wood shop, and vocational agriculture classes.

This is where donating time, talent, and treasure, and giving back to the community fit into the picture of operating St. Francis Catholic School. The elementary and high schools of greatly benefit from alumni cash donations, which, generously, were up to $30,000 dollars this past year. Hometown benefactors also reach out to the school when local businesses donate money or supplies to the facility. The school expenses are budgeted into the parish expenses, and it is the position of the Catholic Church that every Catholic support Catholic education; therefore, weekly tithing at the church also supports the school. All of these contributions are not enough; however, and the St. Francis community uses their time, talent, and treasure in attaining the rest of the money needed for managing the school.

Humphrey St. Francis School family maintains the idea that God has given each individual the talents they need to maintain the school and to help it to flourish. They are inspired by the gospel teaching that if their God-given talents are used for good, the individuals and their efforts will be rewarded. Those who support the school use the talents given them to contribute to the institution≠s needs.

Over the years, numerous committees have been organized, and these committees dedicate themselves to supporting the school financially. The committees or organizations that raise funds specifically for use by the school are The Home and School Association, The Big Red Bash, The St. Francis Melodrama Players, The Athletic Booster Club. Other fund-raising committees that are currently in operation and that work to support St. Francis Parish as well as St. Francis Catholic School are The 500 Club, Blue and White Night, and the annual Parish Bazaar. These committees function in many different ways, and they sponsor events from the casual to formal. In addition to the groups who are organized as fund raisers, there are some other organizations who help the school financially, these include The St. Francis Women≠s Choir, The St. Francis Sewing Circle, The Knights of Columbus, The Catholic Order of Foresters, The Catholic Daughters, and The Christian Mothers.

One other monetary support system is the St. Francis Wish List. Alumni and parishioners, along with financial donations to the school, purchase items from the list and donate them to the school and/or the teacher who requested the items. The list is printed in every Alumni Newsletter, which is mailed out four times a year.

To everyone who helps in any way to keep St. Francis operational, we say thank you! Your blessings will be many in heaven. As it says in 1 Peter 4: 10, ≥Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.≈

The Home and School Association has benefited St. Francis School for many years. All St. Francis parents, administration, faculty, and staff are members of the group. The purpose of Home and School is to plan opportunities for social interaction, to provide funds for school needs, and to promote open communication with faculty, parents, and the community as a whole. It is lead by four board members who are elected to a two-year term in the spring with the alternation of two new members elected each year. Some of the annual fund-raisers include a book fair, cookie dough sales, and lunch stands. With some of the money that the members raise, teachers are able to get new items for their classrooms. Over recent years, the school has received new teacher desks, chairs, computers, and books, as well as other miscellaneous items. The Home and School Association also takes care of lunches for the teachers during parent-teacher conferences, and the teachers appreciate the time and energy that the committee puts into taking care of the school ant its employees.

The Big Red Bash is sponsored by the Catholic Order of Foresters, a fraternal insurance company. This casual fundraiser is held during a televised Nebraska football game in the fall of the year. Several big screen televisions are set up for people to watch the game and attendees enjoy hors d≠oeuvres, refreshments, and a steak dinner. There is also a silent auction and raffle held at the event. Access classes at the school often donate items for the silent auction in support of the technology they use on a daily basis. The Catholic Order of Foresters matches up to $1,600 in profits from the Big Red Bash, and the money is used to fund technology at the school.

The St. Francis Melodrama Players raise money for the speech and drama department at St. Francis. The group has been performing plays since 1992; in the early years they performed two plays a year. They now perform only one play each year in the spring, and this year they performed their eighteenth play, ≥Holder Posey, The Felonious Photographer≈ written by Billy St. John. A core cast of about ten people has been with the players for most every production. Father Tom Bauwens, the pastor of St. Francis, has joined in the play in recent years as has high school English teacher, Tina Schumacher. Occasionally a high school student has also joined the cast of players. The melodrama raises approximately $2,000 each year. Much of this money has been used to make improvements to the stage. New stage lights, a sound system, and a spotlight are among the improvements that have been made. The speech and drama programs are headed by Mrs. Theola Peck, and she gratefully appreciates all the work the melodrama players do and the funding that they give the program.

The Athletic Booster Club is made up of individuals and businesses who support St. Francis athletics. It is run by a board of six man and wife couples, and meetings, which are open to the public, are held once a month. Booster Club revenue is collected from the gate taken in at all home athletic contests as well as concession sales, an annual soup supper, and an annual golf and euchre tournament. This money is used to pay for everything that pertains to the athletic programs, including gas needed for teams to travel to events away from the school grounds, referees, uniforms, sports equipment (balls, nets, etc.) plaques, and engraving. In recent weeks, they have put an addition of trophy cases into the high school gym lobby. Over the past summer, the athletic board headed up a complete renovation of the high school gym with new paint, a new finish on the floor, and modern bleachers. Of course, they could not have done this without the contributions of many generous donors. If you are a supporter of St. Francis athletics, you are a member of The Booster Club!

The 500 Club was created in 1982 as a moneymaking project to help supplement the parish≠s ever-increasing budget needs, which includes the school. Every year volunteers, who serve a three-year term on the committee, take on the responsibility of putting together this night of dinner, entertainment, and dancing. Only 500 memberships are sold, hence the name, The 500 Club. Members are entitled to chances at winning two weekly drawings of $50 and additional chances at twenty $100 drawings throughout the year. Membership in the club also includes admittance to the annual St. Patrick≠s dinner and dance. Between the prime rib meal and the dance there is a scheduled entertainer, such as a comedian or a hypnotist. There is also a Texas hold em≠ poker tournament held after the entertainment. Being a member of the 500 Club offers many opportunities to win some cash during the year and to experience an enjoyable evening of entertainment in March, while supporting the St. Francis Parish and School in the process.

Blue and White Night is held at Divots Event Center in Norfolk. This is a very formal evening, consisting of fine dining, a silent auction, a live auction, and a raffle. Generous donations from businesses and individuals in the area make this event possible. The money raised in this event is used for development purposes, which includes, but is not limited to, scholarships for students attending St. Francis. The dedicated committee of eight men and women determine the areas of most need each year, and that is where they use the money that they raise at Blue and White night. Fine dining and generous donating is what one can expect to find at Divots on Blue and White Night.

The Parish Bazaar committee hosts the most extensive fundraiser for the parish and school. The annual bazaar is held on the first Sunday in October in and around the St. Francis high school gymnasium and school grounds. This fundraiser invokes the help of all St. Francis parishioners, young and old, in that junior high and high school students work with the adults of the parish in setting up for the bazaar, working the booths, serving the meal, and cleaning up when it is all over. The people of the parish pull together and willingly show up to help where they are needed or assigned to work. At the bazaar, there are many games for all ages, such as bingo, ring toss, and grab bag. There is also a craft booth, a country store, a fun run for kids, and an auction to end the day. The meal, often being the main attraction as its delicious scent wafts throughout the campus, consists of turkey, sausage, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, and a wide variety of desserts donated by the women of the parish. The bazaar brings in an average of $80,000 every year and is key in keeping the parish and school running smoothly.