A Shepherd Salute
The annual gala and auction of Notre Dame Seminary honored the Rev. Joe Krafft as the 2025 Good Shepherd Award recipient. Over several decades, he worked at the seminary for 16 years; directed mission trips; and used both his business acumen and theological training to build faith communities. Currently, he serves as pastor of St. Clement of Rome Parish. Congratulations to him were numerous. In 2024, the accolades befell Barbara and Larry Hedrick.
Always a popular event, the gala thanked, among others, both Black Tie and Thompson auctions for the extensive selection of for-bid items, either live or silent; the Culinary Crusaders of Brother Martin High School; Drago’s Seafood Restaurant; Lagniappe Luncheonette — Abby and Larry Brown; Pel Hughes Printing; Plantation Décor Flowers; and the seminary’s staff and food services.
A slew of thanks also tapped event chair couples Lisa and Tim Thriffiley and Rhonda and Frank Tusa; auction chairs Jackie Madden and Deacon Robert and Pam Pendzimaz; patron party chair couples Erin and Joseph Caruso and Beverly and Tim Napier; and for food and beverages, Laurie and Owen Leftwich, Kathleen Sammons, and Cissy and Raymond Yakelis. Further gratitude went to the gala committee of 40 people, which included Deacon Carlo and Debbie Maniglia, Apostles sponsors, along with the Carusos and the Cedro Family Foundation.
The lead sponsors, Mary, Queen of the Apostles, were the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable and Ourso Family foundations, which were followed by the Chair of Peter, and, as families or individuals, the Cvitanovich Family, the Daigle and Scotton Family, Jacquelyn Daniels, Dr. Robert and Joanne Marier, Charlene Marsiglia, David and Mary Beth Mettz, and the J. Edgar Monroe and the Reiling Family foundations. The seminary advisers were Rector/President the Very Rev. Joshua J. Rodrigue, Caroline Thriffiley and Mary Shaffo. Headliners included Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Archbishop emeritus Alfred Hughes, many of the aforementioned, and hundreds more. The premises were packed, but the party flow moved easily along the hallway and into the various reception rooms for food and drink, and the always-favorite dessert room. Willy Wonka would have been overwhelmed.
Further features were cocktails, music, delicious dishes, and the raffle, as well as the opportunity to hobnob, support education, and enjoy being present in the signature building on the impressive nine-acre campus. The seminary, which was founded in 1923 and operates under the auspices of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has since been the site for several significant exhibits and installations. For the Saturday evening of the gala, the venue played host to hundreds of supportive partygoers.
Women of Substance
As it has been for three decades, the Audubon Tea Room was packed to hail a celebrated set. These were the honorees at the Women of Substance Luncheon put on by (and to benefit) Bridge House/ Grace House. Roundly applauded were the honored threesome: Claudia Powell, a banker (now with First Horizon, formerly Iberia Bank) who assisted in the purchases of both the BH Thrift Store on Earhart Blvd. and the GH facility on the west bank; Gambit Weekly’s 2016 New Orleanian of the Year Melissa Sawyer, who established YEP (Youth Empowerment Project) in 2004, to engage young people through education, mentoring and employment readiness; and social worker Michelle Gaiennie Hamrick, who was inspired by her late father, Buzzy Gaiennie, BH CEO, and is now a staff member of LSUHSC’s Department of Psychiatry, where she is the program manager for the Louisiana State Opioid Response (Lasor) Project.
More names to know – and there were scores – were chaplain Phil Peavey; master of ceremonies Mark Romig; John Eastman, the Richard “Buzzy” Gaiennie awardee; Sharonda Williams, the Leigh Whitman Director Volunteer of the Year; and the Alumna of the Year, Candice Harper. Julie Adler, Julie Bowen, Barbara Gaiennie (widow of Buzzy and mother of honoree Michelle), Jane Goldring, board president Walton Goldring, Brittany Greiffenstein, Michelle Hamrick, Felicia Kleinpeter, Diana Parham, Angele Romig, Mary Kay Staten, Miki Tomeny and Susan Tyler served on the Women of Substance Committee.
The management team for the two houses, Bridge and Grace (respectively for men and for women), starts with CEO Kevin Gardere and includes a dozen others. Along with Walton Goldring, the officers of the 19-person board are H. Elder Gwin, Michael Pou and Susan Tyler. The event was presented by Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust and celebrated in memory of Leigh Whitman Director. The Goldring Family and James P. Raymond Jr. foundations were also top sponsors.
Bridge House/Grace House has as its mission “to provide substance use disorder treatment services to those who have lost everything… They (at BH or GH) are provided a safe place to recover and provided with the tools to build a new life.” Hope and health were predominant themes when Alumna of the Year Candice Harper spoke of her Grace House experience, which she labeled “a wonderful program” and taught her how to live and be a mother. She received a standing ovation.
Social features of the midday gathering included a menu of chicken and andouille gumbo, roasted chicken spring mix salad, and cheesecake that was enjoyed by hundreds, including sisters Nancy Caire Giacone and Wanda Caire Muhs at the Judy Hauth table; the exciting live auction; Aspirational Art Postcards; the 50/50 Raffle; the Grace House Wish List; the silent auction; and the for-sale centerpieces composed of red roses, irises, daisies and a glittered “30” in recognition of the luncheon’s anniversary.
Luncheon and Laurels
The YMCA of Greater New Orleans held its 2025 annual meeting at Ralph’s on the Park — the 173rd such meeting! — and delighted in the near presence of Mother Nature as guests took in the spectacular view of City Park through the large windows.
Looking inward, the annual meeting is a welcoming celebration of new YMCA of GNO board members and officers, as well as the acknowledgment of board members completing their designated years of service. Culinary enjoyment figured in the format as attendees relished Caesar salad, grilled chicken breast and strawberry doberge vanilla chiffon cake.
For the program, president and CEO Gordon Wadge welcomed guests; new board member the Rev. Dean Ross offered the invocation; and board chair Julie Nosser opened the award ceremony by inviting Joey Roberts, executive director of the West Tammany YMCA, to come forward and present the Mildred Wild Volunteer of the Year award to Carolyn Pearce for her decades-long service to the West St. Tammany YMCA. The late Ms. Wild’s generous donation to the Y, through her will, seeded the endowment.
The next presentation was done by Julie Nosser to the Rev. Gregory T. Manning for his extensive service to the community and the YMCA. It was the C. Allen Favrot Humanitarian of the Year award and named for the “legendary New Orleanian,” who was a dedicated longtime YMCA board member, community activist and philanthropist.
New board members Neel Fallis, Randi Hebert, Mike Quigley, Dr. Chase Schumacher, and Laverne Saulny Toombs chatted with board secretary Heather Olivier, vice chair Marlin Gusman Jr., treasurer Jim Thomas, and past chair Rachel Rodi, as well as Dryades YMCA CEO Erika Mann, Nicole Provosty, and Alicia Wood. All issued congratulations to Carolyn Pearce and Pastor Manning.