Cardinal Newman holds annual auction
By John Dixon

Eddy and Shanna Yandle

The Zone at Williams Brice Stadium was abuzz with activity Saturday evening, March 15 for the Cardinal Newman School's 12th Annual Auction. It was a nasty stormy night as Auction Chair Cindy Touma and her team of volunteers busied themselves with last minute details. Wonderful smells filled the room. Tables were filled with items for the silent auction including mountain getaways, a racing bike, parties of every kind, beautiful decorative pillows and tapestries, and a stunning gold leaf nativity.

Local artist, Ernest Lee greeted bidders with his art, and "Austin Powers" was on hand to encourage bidders and entertain the crowd.

Cindy Touma will pass her duties as auction chair to Melissa Campanero next year. Touma said, "We outgrew all of our previous venues, and it is quite a coup to be able to use The Zone to support students and programs at Cardinal Newman. We have over 370 registered bidders, which is great because this is the PTO's only fundraiser and fundraising cannot be accomplished without a large group."

Artist Ernest Lee and Eric Goff

This year's auction host was Great Southern Homes, the auction event host was the Boudreaux Group, and the Sustaining Partner was the Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals. Table sponsors included AccuPad, Inc.; AQA International; BlueCross Blue Shield of South Carolina; Boyd Management; Carolina Dermatology Group, P.A.; Colite industries; Defender Services Inc.; Dick Smith Automotive; Garvin Design Group, Inc.; JE Wilson Advisors; K&M Uniforms; Lizard's Thicket; South Carolina Hear Center- Camden; South Carolina Heart Center- Columbia; Thermo King; and Keenan and Suggs. A complete list of advertising sponsors and donors are on the website at www.cnhs.org .

As the silent auction concluded and people began to cue up to pay for their acquisitions, Tony Haughy, chair of Cardinal Newman's Theology Department, led all in prayer; afterwhich, Kasprowski took the mike to share her special news. First she welcomed everyone and thanked all for their tireless support of a quality Catholic education at Cardinal Newman. Then she dropped her bombshell.

After an intense period of due diligence, Cardinal Newman has cancelled their option on the Farrow Road Property targeted for the new Cardinal Newman. The crowd was hushed as they listened for what was to come next. Kasprowski announced the Bishop of Charleston has signed an option on a piece of property at Alpine Road, I- 77 and I- 20 currently owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield and after due diligence is complete the new school will still be on target for completion at the start of the 2010- 2011 school year.

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd. Kasprowski thanked them for their patience and support and passed the microphone to auctioneer, Jim Deyling and the live auction began.

The hottest live auction items were a Carolina Clemson weekend, A racing week- end package, and a precious cocker spaniel puppy who spent his night in the arms of Rene Darnell and Tracy Nottoli.

All in all when the night was done, a good time was had by all, and a substantial amount of money was raised for a very worthy cause, and some folks went home with some great deals.

Bob and Jean Underwood Sister Roberta Fulton and Sister Eileen Quinn Cindy Touma, auction chair, and Auctioneer Jim Deyling St. John Neumann Principal Barbara Cole and Cardinal Newman Principal Jacqueline Kasprowski Richard Halpern as "Austin Powers" Rene Darnell Robyn and Michael Nieri Nancy Briggs and Jennifer Kaple Catherine and Ray August Melissa Campanero, next year's auction chair and Cindy Touma