This year’s Fall Dinner Auction was a true highlight of St. Louis Center’s annual fundraising season. Held on Saturday, November 8, at St. Mary’s in Chelsea, the evening welcomed more than 200 guests for a joyful night of fellowship, generosity, and spirited bidding.
Items Up for Bid
The silent and online auctions ran smoothly throughout the evening, while the live auction—led by the ever-entertaining David Helmer—kept the room laughing and bidding enthusiastically. Peg Bravo served as emcee, guiding guests seamlessly through the program and setting the tone for a memorable night.
Inspiring Presentations
Once guests were seated, Peg opened the formal program with several meaningful presentations. Fred Ashline of the Sean Brian Ashline Foundation stepped forward to present Fr. Satheesh with a $25,000 check, representing proceeds from the Foundation’s recent golf outing.
The Dexter Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, known for its tireless fundraising efforts on behalf of St. Louis Center, was also in attendance. From Quartermania to rummage sales and beyond, the Auxiliary raises both funds and awareness throughout the year. Organizers Beth Chamberlain and Patsy Brundage enjoyed the evening’s food and fellowship while also presenting the Center with proceeds from their latest initiatives.
The Knights of Columbus State Council added to the night’s generosity as well. State Deputy Barry Borsenik and M-I Program Director Mark Brezenski presented St. Louis Center with a $25,000 grant, supplementing the steadfast support provided year-round by local councils through their annual Tootsie Roll drives.
Guests also learned about Dream Tour IV, with cruise planners Cathy Bilinski and Trish Elbin sharing updates and encouraging attendees to reserve cabins while space remains available.
You can learn more about Dream Tour IV HERE.
Honoring a Legacy of Service
One of the most touching moments of the evening was the presentation of the St. Louis Guanella Founder’s Award to Sharon Pignanelli and her late husband, Frank, in recognition of their many years of dedicated service and unwavering support of St. Louis Center. State Representative Kathy Schmaltz joined the celebration, adding to the evening’s sense of community.
In a remarkable gesture of generosity, Norm and Kathi Neuman pledged to ensure all fund-a-need items reached their fundraising goals—a moment that truly embodied the spirit of the evening.
New Bidding Initiatives Show Strong Results
This year marked the second anniversary of St. Louis Center’s expanded online auction initiative. Designed to improve accessibility and efficiency, the platform streamlines check-in and check-out while allowing guests to bid digitally on select items. After designating one-third of items as online-only last year, the number increased to half of all auction items in 2025, yielding encouraging results. Staff and auction committee members were energized by the increased participation and are already imagining how the Fall Dinner Auction will continue to evolve in the years ahead.
With Gratitude
Heartfelt thanks go to every committee member whose dedication made this event a success, with special appreciation to Event Chair Eileen Augustine for her leadership. St. Louis Center also extends deep gratitude to all who donated items, sponsored the event, volunteered their time, or attended the auction. Especially, we’d like to thank this year’s Platinum Sponsors: Roberts Paint & Body and Stellantis FCA Foundation; Gold Sponsor Lothamer Tax Resolution; Silver Sponsors Edward Jones, Donna Hrozencik & Mark Ouimet, and Lake Trust Credit Union; Dinner Sponsors Chelsea State Bank, ITC Holdings, and LaJolla Fine Jewelry; Program Brochure Sponsors Rankin Audiology & Hearing Inc., and Judy Schmidli; and Day of Benevolent Care Sponsor Linda Recca.
Your generosity helps ensure that we can continue providing exceptional care and services to the residents of the Center.
Read the entire issue of St. Louis Spirit here!
