Northeast: Dougherty Alumni Planning 'Night of Recognition'

Bob McCool keeps track on his laptop of how many 

tickets event coordinator Steve Kiszely (shirt and tie)

 hands out to each volunteer to sell.

A fire left Mike and Franni Prendergast homeless. 

A lack of enrollment at the couples alma matter, Cardinal Dougherty High School, left Mike, the school’s alumni director for 30 years, without a job. 

A night of recognition planned by Dougherty alumni and friends in reaction to these latest developments, as well as a celebration of the Prendergast family’s dedication to the Dougherty community, will hopefully become a stepping stone to restoring this family’s fortune.

Last night, the committee organizing the affair had their second meeting at the St. Katherine of Sienna catholic elementary school on Grant Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia to discuss various volunteering responsibilities and to hand out the tickets. The event will be held on October 16 at the Cardinal Dougherty cafeteria.

There have been 1,000 tickets printed for the event to be sold at $35 per person and will include food provided by Catering by Mario’s, draft beer, wine, and soda, with all proceeds benefitting the Prendergast family. Dougherty alumni, comedian Joe Conklin, will also be performing live.

Heading the fundraising team is owner and operator of the Delaware Valley Packaging Group in Bensalem, Steve Kiszely, good friend of the Prendergast family.

“People are coming out of the wood work to support this family,” Kiszely said. “We have people from across the Delaware Valley to come to this thing. Mike has been the catalyst, or the driving force, who steered the alumni for years.”

Kiszely hopes that as many alumni as possible will come out to support one of Cardinal Dougherty’s most beloved champions.

“Alumni and friends are coming home to show their spirit in recognition of Mike and Fran  and all they have done for the community,” he said.

Team 2 NE Philly: Gail Austin and Tom Rowan Jr.