web1_TTL040217DanceMarathon_3-cmyk.jpg

Wyoming Sem. students dance to raise money for sick children

web1_Tornado-2.jpg

Benefit in Dupont aids tornado victims

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Westmoreland Club was alive with raucous basketball fans on Saturday night at the 11th annual Catholic Youth Center March Madness Fundraiser.</p><p>About 230 supporters gathered to watch the Final Four games and help the CYC raise about $100,000 to be used to continue its mission to help local families.</p><p>Mark Soprano, executive director for the CYC, said the money raised at the event is a big boost to the CYC budget. It will be used for programs designed to benefit local disadvantaged youth, he emphasized.</p><p>&#8220;This is our largest fundraiser every year. We thank all of the local businesses and members of the community for their generosity,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Soprano also thanked the group of volunteers who organized the event. The 15-member organizing committee is headed by John Cavanaugh, from Central Clay Products, and Katie Lambert, from McCarthy Tire, and includes members of the board of directors and community.</p><p>The attendees were provided a high-quality game-watching experience, Soprano said. Televisions were set up in every room so everybody had a good view. One giant-screen television was set up in the Grand Ballroom, he added. The club was also adorned with basketball-themed decorations to enhance the spirit of the championship games as well.</p><p>Guests helped themselves to a wide menu of food and beverages and participated in a silent auction. Numerous local businesses donated over 90 prizes for the auction, including a weeklong stay in Florida with tickets to visit the Disney resorts, jewelry, sports memorabilia, gift certificates from local restaurants and other businesses, tickets to local professional sports events and baskets stuffed with various cordials and other party goods.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a fun community event that brings out the basketball fans and other friends of the CYC,&#8221; Soprano said.</p><p>Katie Lambert, the event&#8217;s co-chair, said she has been involved in its planning for all 11 years and noted that the event has almost doubled in attendance since it first began. She added the committee appreciated the Westmoreland Club for providing such a &#8220;great venue.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a fun time where we get to sit down and mingle,&#8221; she said. &#8220;The crowd is a mix of ardent fans, supporters of the CYC and community leaders,&#8221; she added.</p><p>Lambert, who has been involved with the CYC for many years, stressed that the facility has done a lot for local families through its youth sports programs thanks to the efforts of the people who work there.</p><p>&#8220;This is about giving back to what we all feel is a great organization,&#8221; she said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Westmoreland Club bartender Meghan Harris makes a martini for Jennifer Hilla, of Mountain Top. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm2_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Westmoreland Club bartender Meghan Harris makes a martini for Jennifer Hilla, of Mountain Top. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tim Lambert, of Wyoming, looks over items in the silent auction. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm3_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Tim Lambert, of Wyoming, looks over items in the silent auction. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Becky Brominski, of Mountain Top, takes an appetizer from waitress Caitlyn Tichy at the CYC March Madness Final Four on Saturday at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm1_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Becky Brominski, of Mountain Top, takes an appetizer from waitress Caitlyn Tichy at the CYC March Madness Final Four on Saturday at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm3_faa-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tim Lambert, of Wyoming, looks over items in the silent auction. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_cyc_mm3_faa-cmyk.jpg</photo3><caption3>Tim Lambert, of Wyoming, looks over items in the silent auction. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ralph Nardone</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

March Madness fans raise cash for Catholic Youth Center programs