Canisius High School Today
10
Luck o’Canisius shines on GAMBIT 2013
record crowd of more than 550 Canisius High School
supporters gathered on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, wearing
green and discovering golden opportunities at GAMBIT
2013, the school’s largest annual fundraising event.
Held on March 16 with a Luck o’Canisius theme, the
39th GAMBIT brought good fortune to the school as
the generosity of sponsors, donors and guests raised
approximately $362,500 in support of Jesuit education
at Canisius. Co-chair couples and current parents Martha
and David Mangan ’80 and Patricia and Bill Christ ’82
led the efforts of the GAMBIT team in securing over 700
gifts and a record number of program sponsors to make the
event a tremendous success.
“We always like to say we stand on the
shoulders of those who served before us, as
the event continually grows more successful
year after year,”
says Colleen Sellick, director of
GAMBIT.
“The energy of this year’s GAMBIT was
remarkable. We actually had to close out ticket
sales the week before the event and that is the
first time I ever remember that happening.”
Nine gift-gathering parties throughout the year were hosted
by nearly 60 different Canisius supporters resulting in a wide
array of items for bid. Sections of the silent auction located
in the auditorium carried the Irish theme with names such
as Dublin, Cork, Galway and Pot O’Gold, while the Canisius
High School Band entertained with a number of Irish tunes
in its repertoire.
Jack Armstrong, parent of three Canisius Crusaders, once
again served as Master of Ceremonies and Cash Cunningham
volunteered his services as auctioneer for the live auction in
the Bernard J. Kennedy ’49 Field House, the 22nd year he
has done so. Nearly 50 Canisius High School faculty and staff
members were in attendance and Mrs. Sellick points out that
the night could not have happened without the help of 80
student and more than 100 parent volunteers.
Evening Highlights
The GAMBIT Loyalty Award was presented to Ralph
Coppola ’66, owner and CEO of Innovative Concepts in
Entertainment (ICE). A generous and long-time supporter of
GAMBIT and Canisius High School, Coppola’s father was an
alumnus, his son, Joseph, graduated Canisius in 1989 and his
grandson, Ryan, is a member of the class of 2016.
Senior Drake Chaney ’13 gave a presentation on the Crusader
Fund, which provides needed tuition support to students
who experience an unforeseen crisis in their family
while attending Canisius. The GAMBIT crowd gave Chaney
a standing ovation when he was finished, and after Cash
Cunningham started the bidding for contributions, a record
$80,000 was raised for the Crusader Fund, which is included
in the total raised from the event.
Of course, Rev. Ron Sams, S.J. ’46, served as GAMBIT
Ambassador, greeting guests throughout the evening and
reminding them of the importance of the event he first
founded in 1975.
2011
2012
2013
Gross:
$421,421
$487,874
$467,978
Net:
$313,220
$386,093
$362,500
