FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenni Granero | development@svdphouston.org
(Houston, November 18, 2020) - The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be celebrating 150 years in the community on Saturday evening, September 18, 2021 at the River Oaks Country Club. The Sesquicentennial event will honor the late Marek brothers - John, Bill, and Ralph - and their mother, Granny, who were longtime and faithful supporters of the Society’s mission. Honorary chairs for the 150th Anniversary Gala are Bruce and Stan Marek.
Stan Marek, son of the late Ralph Marek, said “Our immigrant family found the America Dream only to lose it all in 1933. My father and his two brothers left Yoakum, Texas and a life of poverty caused by the Great Depression. Four years of homelessness left an unforgettable impact in their lives. As successful adults in the construction industry in Houston, the Marek brothers and their mother vowed to help those experiencing hunger and homelessness. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was the perfect answer to fulfilling this goal. The Society was one of their favorite charities, and remains an important part of the current Marek generation.”
This event marks an exciting moment for the Society’s supporters to celebrate the presence of this volunteer-run organization in times of great need; to thank our philanthropic community who time and time again support the Society’s mission of serving the poor; and to share the stories of the thousands of families the Society has helped throughout these 150 years. It is also an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the history of the Society’s mission, plan for the mission’s future, and keep supporting the mission for the next 150 years. Ann Schorno, Executive Director, said, “As we celebrate this historic occasion, 150 years since our founding in 1871, we are grateful to the small group of lay men who came together and founded our first Society Conference in what is now the St. Mary Cathedral Basilica in Galveston, TX. We are also grateful for being able to survive through tumultuous events in history.” The Society’s local network includes 58 local chapters, 21 food pantries, two resale shops, and 1,850 Vincentian volunteers as well as 1,400 community base volunteers committed to serving the community. The 150th Anniversary Gala will include an elegant dinner reception and a silent auction with carefully curated items. Proceeds will bring vital funds and support to the Society’s expansive network of program and services. To become a sponsor, donate an auction item, or learn more about attending the event, please contact Jenni Granero at development@svdphouston.org. Individual tickets and tables of ten are now on sale for the Society’s 150th Anniversary Gala website.
About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 1871 in Galveston, TX. The Society has 58 chapters throughout the greater Houston area. They are a