EPHRATA — The students at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Ephrata were the winners Saturday evening, as the school’s annual fundraiser banquet and auction brought in more than expected. 

“The great thing about this dinner is that you are going to lose weight,” Bishop Joseph Tyson, who proudly proclaimed himself a native of Moses Lake, told the crowd. “You’re going to eat as much as you want, and you’re going to lose weight because you’re going to leave your wallets on the table.” 

And the participants did, to an estimated tune of $260,000, Principal Amy Krautscheidt said, although the final numbers hadn’t been calculated Monday. That’s a significant increase over the roughly $158,000 the auction raised last year. 

Among the standout items was a wood tile painting made by the kindergarten class that went for $5,000. 

“They took stained wood tiles and made this gorgeous harvest-colored landscape with a cross in the middle with light coming out of it, and the light was glow-in-the-dark,” Krautscheidt said. 

The theme for the evening was “Mystery Masquerade” and volunteers and many attendees donned glittery retro costumes and masks. Dinner was catered by Enzo’s; the auction was conducted by Booker Auction. About 285 people attended the event, volunteers estimated. 

St. Rose is one of six elementary schools in the Diocese of Yakima, and the only one in a rural community. The student body is small, only 117 students for kindergarten through sixth grade, but the school’s supporters are loyal; some families had multiple generations of alumni. 

“I went here, and my mom went here,” said volunteer Nick Moore, who was dressed in steampunk regalia and helping with a playing card raffle. “My grandma didn’t go here, but she laid some of the bricks when they built the building.”  

Mike Ahmann said his family too has a decades-long connection with the school 

“My oldest started when he was 11, so that’s 50 years,” he said. “Now we’ve got a great-granddaughter here.” 

The money that’s raised at the auction goes to close the gap between what Catholic education costs and what the school actually charges in tuition, which works out to about $3,000, Krautscheidt said. In addition, there’s a paddle raise for a scholarship fund started by Fr. Seamus Kerr, a longtime pastor at St. Rose Parish and a strong supporter of the school. That money goes to families who can’t afford the full tuition. The school doesn’t turn away students over their ability to pay, Krautscheidt said, although sometimes the school has to get creative in finding donations to cover the cost. 

Last year’s Fr. Kerr Scholarship Fund paddle-raise brought in $75,000, and Kerr, now in his 90s and retired, was confident that could be topped, Krautscheidt said. 

“He asked me what he should ask for, and I said ‘Well, Father, you said 75 last year and we ran out,’” Krautscheidt said. “He said, ‘Well, I’m going to ask for 100.’ And then he got up there and asked for 120.” 

“He gave a speech, and he said ‘Do not be afraid to give because it will come back to you. Every time, it’ll come back to you.’” Krautscheidt added. 

In the end, the paddle-raise brought in $121,000, Krautscheidt said. That’s enough to help 40 students in need, she added. 

One of the kids benefiting is Christina Dorton’s daughter, who is in the sixth grade. Dorton was volunteering at the door, and said she’ll probably keep volunteering after her daughter graduates because the school has been so good to their family. 

“Everybody’s been super loving and accepting, and she loves it here,” Dorton said. “I would have brought (my older girls) here too, but I didn’t realize that I could afford it, because events like this make it affordable. The scholarships really helped me offset the tuition and make sure each year that she could come here.” 

    Karen Moore checks out the desserts arrayed for a dessert dash at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School’s fundraiser auction and banquet Saturday.
  

    From left: Jacob Green, Michelle Brown and Jacky Mendez keep busy pouring drinks at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic School fundraiser Saturday.
  

    Diane Jenkins of Ephrata looks over the bids on silent auction items at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School’s auction Saturday. The auction raised about $260,000 to help cover the students’ tuition, including scholarships for students in need, Principal Amy Krautscheidt said.
  

    Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima welcomes attendees to the St. Rose of Lima Catholic School auction Saturday. Tyson, who was born in Moses Lake, shepherds a diocese that comprises Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat and Yakima counties.
  

    St. Rose of Lima Catholic School is located in Ephrata.