(Chelsea Update would like to thank Joe Yekulis for the information in this story and Kelly Flaherty for the photo gallery.)
St. Louis Center continues to receive strong community support for its fundraisers, and the month of June featured two back-to-back events with a dinner at Paesano’s Restaurant in Ann Arbor on June 14, followed by the 21st Annual Golf and Glory Outing at U-M Golf Course on Monday, June 22.
Each event is unique in its own way, with the link being the generosity of Paesano’s owners Michael and Bridget Roddy, who have been supporting St. Louis Center for many years through this golf outing and their restaurant events.
The Paesano’s dinner provides an opportunity to honor the priests of the Servants of Charity, and this year’s honoree was Fr. Satheesh Alphonse, SdC. As a member of the Servants of Charity, Fr. Satheesh was ordained at the Don Guanella Minor Seminary in Chennai, India in 2002 and came to St. Louis Center in 2006. He is now the Director of the Pious Union of St. Joseph in Grass Lake, MI.
Fifty people turned out to honor him at the dinner, and several people spoke during the evening to tell their favorite Fr. Satheesh stories. At the end of the evening he received a portrait of Our Lady of Velanhanni, India and a gift certificate.
The Golf and Glory Outing was another successful venture, as a full course of 144 golfers devoted their day to St. Louis Center as one of their favorite non-profits.
Celebrity golfers in attendance included such notable figures from the sports world as Tom Nowatzke, President of the Detroit Lions Alumni Association, Mike Lucci (Lions-ret.), Elaine Crosby (LPGA-ret.), Paul Seymour (Lions/Bills-ret.), Dean Look (MSU and Super Bowl Referee-ret.), and Wayne Welton (Chelsea HS AD Retired/Director of Baseball Operation – U-M).
This year was former Detroit Lion Tight End Tony Scheffler’s (Chelsea HS) first year to participate, and Michigan Supreme Court Justice David Viviano and Celebrity Chairman George Blaha (Pistons/MSU Broadcaster) were also present for the event.
Following 18 holes of golf, golfers were treated to a beef tenderloin dinner, live and silent auctions, sponsor recognitions, and a drawing for an Alaskan Cruise Raffle. After over 1,200 tickets were sold, the winning ticket was Sue Phillips of Grass Lake.
St. Louis Center is a residential care center for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and run by the Servants of Charity. For more information about St. Louis Center, click here.
