Manassas Journal Messenger | It’s My Town
Benefit goal topped …
With the selection and announcement of the winning raffle tickets, Seton School in Manassas revealed this week that it had exceeded its goal of raising $20,000 to benefit the Susan Torres Fund.
The school generated the funds in only four weeks by hosting a charity basketball game and a raffle.
“Overall, we couldn’t have been more pleased,” Mike Hadro, spokesman for the fundraiser, said.
Greg Skorupski of Burke won the raffle, which had a first prize of $2,000. When notified he had won, Skorupski said he wanted to donate his winnings to the Torres Fund.
Nancy Paanessa of Clifton won second prize, a week at a beach house in Myrtle Beach.
All 2,000 raffle tickets were sold, thanks to the efforts of local residents with the assistance of the Knights of Columbus councils at All Saints Parish in Manassas, St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton, St. Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax and St. Philip Parish in Falls Church.
“Swish for Susan,” the benefit basketball event between the Seton School All-Stars and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, drew about 800 people to the event at Osbourn Park High School.
On May 7, Susan Torres, 26-year-old wife of 1997 Seton School graduate Jason Torres, collapsed. She was diagnosed with stage four melanoma and was brain dead with no hope of recovery.
Susan was 17 weeks pregnant at the time and doctors were fighting to keep her unborn child alive until the baby had a chance at life.
Seton rallied behind the Torres family and organized the fundraisers with the proceeds going to help defray the medical costs. The baby, Susan Anne Catherine Torres, was born on Aug. 2 and is doing well.
Those wishing to donate to the fund may do so at www.susantorresfund.org or at The Susan M. Torres Fund, Faith and Action, P. O. Box 34105, Washington, D.C. 20043-0105.
The Stars of the Moscow State Circus are coming to Manassas on Aug. 31.
Showtimes are 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Prince William County Fairgrounds.
The acts will include the Moldovian Troupe, who will perform some of the most difficult feats on the teeterboard; Simon the Great, who boasts to be the world’s strongest man; Elian, a contortionists; The Golden Girls of Belarus, a gymnastic team; the Wallendas, who will do aerial artistry; and Coco Kramer, the circus clown.
… See you at the big top.