Auction, dinner to aid St. Aloysius School

St. Aloysius Roman Catholic School’s 14th annual benefit auction will be at the Ridpath Hotel on Saturday.

“An Evening in Paradise” begins at 5 p.m. with a silent auction, followed by dinner and live auction.

Items up for bid include two tickets to the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, a seven-day stay in Molokai, Hawaii, a rafting trip, and a trip for two to Las Vegas, including lodging and spending money.

Tickets are $40 per person and may be purchased by calling Kristi Heaton at 489-7825 or sending e-mail to kheaton@saintals.spokane.wa.us.

Tables of 10 may be reserved in advance.

Community Awards

The Arc of Spokane is seeking nominations for community members who have contributed to bettering the lives of people with developmental disabilities.

Community Award nominees will be honored at The Arc of Spokane’s annual meeting on March 21.

Categories for nominations include:

“ Advocate – a person who has made significant contributions toward bettering the lives of individuals with a developmental disability.

“ Educator – a teacher or educator who has made praiseworthy efforts to support students who have a developmental disability in learning, and who ensure they have a positive experience in school.

“ Good Neighbor – a person or group, outside of the community of disability professionals, who exemplifies acceptance and natural support for one or more persons with developmental disabilities.

“ Employer – an employer that has made praiseworthy efforts to hire and support a person who has a developmental disability. Employer could work for any or no agency.

“ Media Person – a Spokane media professional in newspapers, television or radio who has created one or more stories that have significantly increased the public’s awareness and acceptance of people with developmental disabilities.

“ Organization – a program, group, or organization, outside of the community of disability professionals, that has made praiseworthy efforts to welcome and support people who have a developmental disability.

“ Self-advocate – a person with a developmental disability who has made a significant contribution towards bettering the lives of others with a developmental disability or who has made notable progress in their own life towards greater independence.

To nominate a person or group, or for more information, call Carol Snyder at 328-6326 or send e-mail to csnyder@arc-spokane.org.

Deadline for nominations is Feb. 1.

Grant awarded

Second Harvest Inland Northwest recently received a $65,000 grant from Kraft Foods.

The grant will be used for the distribution of fresh produce and other nutrient-rich perishable food items to the more than 300 charities Second Harvest serves in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Second Harvest Inland Northwest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger.

For more information on Second Harvest, visit www.2-harvest.org or call 534-6678.