Catholic charity hosts fundraiser in Mardi Gras celebration
Published 1:30 am Saturday, February 11, 2017
EVERETT — This Mardi Gras fête figures to be anything but self-indulgent.
A Catholic charity steeped in tradition is preparing to serve a stately tea later this month while putting on a fashion show and auction. The host is Court St. Rita 957, a local chapter of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
Volunteers started selling tickets after Masses last month.
“We’ve had the tea for years, but these last five years we’ve upped our game,” said Bernie Houghton, a Court. St. Rita member. “It’s grown and we’ve done really well.”
Houghton is organizing the event with fellow volunteer Lisa Dickson. It’s set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall, 8517 Seventh Ave. SE, Everett. Anyone is welcome to show up. Tickets cost $20 or $18 per person for a prepaid party of eight.
The party features a classic tea time served on fancy set of china with tea sandwiches and desserts.
Guests get entertained with a vintage fashion show put on by Lynn Gough, owner of Supercalifragilistic Vintage Fashion Shows. This year’s theme is black-and-white attire that harkens back to the late 1800s to the 1950s.
English-born hat maker Rita Newberry plans to sell her custom-made headwear.
Court St. Rita was established locally 92 years ago. Houghton, a long-time teacher at St. Mary Magdalen School, joined in 2010. She’s been active ever since.
The group has 76 current members. It serves St. Mary Magdalen, Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishes. They support the churches throughout the year with a summer rummage sale, bake sales and other fundraisers.
Court St. Rita always schedules its the tea party before Lent, when dietary restrictions could squeeze the menu. That put this year’s show a few days before Fat Tuesday.
Some of the charities they plan to benefit this year include: Cocoon House, Pregnancy Aid of Snohomish County, Gabriel Project (which helps single moms from pregnancy until their child reaches age 5), Providence Hospice and Home Care, Habitat for Humanity, Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington, Matthew House (which helps families with loved ones who are incarcerated), a disabled veterans group and scholarships to help children continue a Catholic education in high school and college.
Direct donations also are encouraged this year to Escape to Peace, a Bellevue-based nonprofit that helps victims of sex trafficking.
Court St. Rita hopes to raise more than $10,000.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
If you go:
A tea, lunch, fashion show and fundraiser is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Feb. 25 at St. Mary Magdalen Parish Hall, 8517 Seventh Ave. SE, Everett. Anyone is welcome to attend. Tickets are $20 each, or $18 per person for a prepaid party of eight.
The annual event is a fundraiser for Court St. Rita 957, a local chapter of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Proceeds are distributed to several charities.
More info: 425-337-3077.
