Fellowship

Dear Friends,

The Hogwarts Express has officially returned to King’s Cross Station, marking the end of another magical Pizza Bingo night! Despite the snow and high winds, the evening was a spectacular success as our Upper Hall was transformed into the Great Hall of Hogwarts, complete with a starry blue sky and floating candles. Professor McGonagall (Pam Bennett) and Severus Snape (Geoff McConnell) assisted with the sorting hat and checking in students and professors for entry into the four Hogwarts school houses that lie within. Gryffindors Ed Kellogg and John Eblacker began the evening with some spooky and delightful music as guests dined on pizza and salad. Everyone looked the part in their Harry Potter inspired costumes and outfits. I know I had to look twice to see which St. Andrew’s friend was behind the wizard/witch. This year, we saw record-breaking interest with 87 tickets sold and 66 guests in attendance. We are so grateful to those who braved the storm to keep the St. Andrew’s tradition of Pizza Bingo alive and fun.

A Night of Magic and Prizes

Our bingo competition, led by Dumbledore (Tom Riley), Severus Snape and Slytherin house head, (Jeff Herrera), was a highlight of the night. They made sure all students (even Voldemort) went home with a prize (or three). Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and local sponsors, every student went home with a prize. Special thanks to:

• Rob Butch for donating Iron Pigs and Phantoms tickets.

• Lee Johnson and local businesses like Ludwig’s Grill, Limoncello, Destination Salon & Spa, and Liberty Union for providing generous gift cards.

• The many friends who donated wine, desserts, and gift cards to Target, Wawa, and Starbucks.

  
  

Gratitude for Our Volunteers

An event of this scale is only possible through the "magic" of our volunteers. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to:

• Irene Castagna for her stunning artistry in decorating the hall.

• John and Libby Eblacker, Ed Moore, and Will Sanders for the heavy lifting and the intricate work of hanging our "floating" candles and house banners.

• Mary Lou Mancini, Nancy Moore, Christine Whaley, and Kim Pratt for the beautiful prize displays.

• Will Sanders for handling the pizza logistics.

• Our energetic Bingo callers—Tom, Jeff, and Ed—for keeping the night moving.

• Our cleanup crew, for their hard work after the festivities ended.

  
  

It was wonderful to fellowship together as families and to have some fun in the spirit of Harry Potter and Bingo competition.

In your service,

Julia Sanders