More than a 115 people recently “let the good times roll” at an annual fund-raiser for St. Gerald elementary school in Oak Lawn.
The group attended a New Orleans-style dinner and dance earlier this month at the school’s gymnasium, 9320 S. 55th Court. The Outcast Jazz Band, a Chicago Beverly area-based group, also performed at the school’s “Let the Good Times Roll” event.
“I think it was very successful,” said the school’s development director Debbie Janicke about the dance that charged $50 a ticket.
Janicke was unable to say how much money was raised at the event, which but it is typically one of the school’s top fundraisers. Last year, the event, which used a the theme of “Dancing with the Stars” title from the title of an ABC’s television show, raised $7,000 for the school, Janicke said.
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The fundraising dances have been held at St. Gerald for more than 20 years, emphasizing a different theme every few years.
The school decided to have a New Orleans theme this year to simply try something new, Janicke said.
Janicke and other St. Gerald officials said they also were happy to have the Outcasts at the fundraiser.
“We are very happy to have the Outcasts performing,” Janicke said. “We have not had a well-known fantastic band in 20 years.”
Even St. Gerald School Principal Al Theis joined the band as a lead singer for the classic 1960’s Bobby Darin tune, “Mack the Knife.”
Food was catered by Chuck’s Southern Comfort Café in Burbank, featuring barbecue dishes, beer, wine and hurricanes.
There also were raffles, $10 a ticket, for a Sharp 55″ HD LED Smart TV, donated by Carol Molnar and Molly Mann of Birthshire Hathaway-Brios Real Estate; an Amazon Echo, donated by Dr. Van Koinis, a pediatrician of Evergreen Park; and three $100 Visa gift cards.
Jenny McAcy, of Orland Park, St. Gerald’s first grade teacher attended with her mother, Jo Anderson, of Oak Lawn.
AcAcy said she enjoyed the event and being involved with the school.
“St. Gerald is just a really great place to be,” McAcy said. “I attended grammar school here, myself, and that is why I decided to pursue a teaching career here.”
Kelly White is a freelance reporter at the Daily Southtown.