By Denise Gary
Photos by Denise Gary
We had such a fantastic time at Friends of Saint Patrick–AZ presents Rock & Read this past Saturday, enjoying plenty of Irish hospitality and culture! Friends of St. Patrick Centre–Arizona Chapter (FoSPC–AZ) kicked off a month-long book drive for Kids Need to Read with this joyful celebration in the courtyard of the The Irish Cultural Center. Attendees received discounted admission by donating books and there were two huge boxes filled with literary contributions by the end of the evening!
2015 FoSPC–AZ Young Ambassador Ciara Archer organized the fundraiser and she did a terrific job! Here she is between me and KNTR volunteer Jessica Payne.
Arizona Colleen and Rose 2015 Mallory Melton, and Arizona Irish Lass 2016 Anne Gardner-Hajek mingled while selling 50/50 raffle tickets to participants, for which KNTR received half of the proceeds. Winners of the Arizona Rose receive the honor of traveling to Ireland to represent their region in the Tralee International Festival.
It was a great pleasure to meet and chat with Mesa City Councilmember Chris Glover, who was an enthusiastic supporter of the event. What a thrill it was to have one of our council members give attention to our cause!
Luckily for all of us, the folks from Cornish Pasty Co. served up their famous pasties! They are truly scrumptious!
The Senators performed in front of the gorgeous McClelland Library, and their lively music was a delight throughout the evening.
As is usually the case when good music abounds, folks hopped up to dance.
FoSPC–AZ is honoring Saint Patrick’s legacy of compassion by sponsoring the book drive, which lasts through Saint Patrick’s Day, to benefit Arizona’s citizens in need. Anyone can bring books to The Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix. Books can also be brought to the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Irish Faire at Margaret T. Hance Park on Saturday, March 12, 2016. Those attending the Faire can donate books at the Faire entrances. Books will also be accepted in the Saint Patrick exhibit in the Irish Cottage. In exchange for donations at the Faire, donors will receive a raffle ticket to be entered for an hourly drawing of $100. Raffle tickets will only be given out at the Faire entrances. More details.
Many thanks to the event attendees, book donors, raffle participants, Friends of St. Patrick Centre–Arizona Chapter, The Irish Cultural Center, Councilmember Chris Glover, and most of all Miss Ciara Archer for providing such wonderful and greatly appreciated support!
