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February 7, 2022Combine a great cause with a great band and what do you get? A successful fundraiser for the Working Boys Center (WBC) - St. Gabriel’s’ International Mission.
More than 100 people came to the 2nd semi-annual dance to benefit the Working Boys Center (recently renamed to “The Center - A Family of Families”). The dance raised over $12,000 which is much needed as Quito has been devastated by the Covid pandemic.
The entertainment for the event was provided pro-bona by Texas Jazz Express, featuring our very own parishioner, John Regina on saxophone. Regina was the Ministry Leader for the WBC before turning the reigns over to Mark Criss after their trip to Quito in 2019. Criss said traveling to that region has been on-hold since 2020, but he hopes to take a group to the Center once things open up again.
Criss said that the greatest needs right now for the WBC are financial support and prayers. “The Center had to temporarily close due to Covid, but the staff quickly came up with creative ways to provide education, food, and supplies to the center’s families.” The funds raised at the dance will allow the center to continue to provide for the families and help reopen the center with the additional safety protocols.
“We have incredibly generous parishioners at St. Gabriel,” Criss said, “and when they see and understand a need—they respond. We couldn’t host a dance in 2020 due to Covid, but we hope to make this an annual event. The people love the band and are extremely generous in supporting the center.”
If you missed the dance but would still like to donate, go to stgabriel.org/wbc. There you can also watch a new video explaining how the team in Quito has been able to help the families during Covid. Even if you can’t donate, please pray for the WBC and their families. Pray specifically:- That the Center can re-open soon (WBC provides so much more than food—things like spiritual growth, community and trade training)
- Pray for an end of the pandemic
- Pray for every person who lacks adequate food and medicine in Quito and throughout the world
