How did you find your way to St. Pius X?
Alisha: We go way back! My grandparents (Ann & Charlie O'Brien) have attended St. Pius X Church since it was a barn. I have between 30-40 family members who have or are currently attending St. Pius. My Dad (Charlie O'Brien) is alumni as am I, so my kids are the 3rd generation to attend the school.
My husband, Jeff Deao, is a transplant from Omaha, where he attended Skutt Catholic. We have 3 kids: Ellie who is in 1st grade, Chaz who is in Pre-K, and JB who will be here in 2 years.
Mandy: We are beginning our fourth year here at St. Pius X. Father Matt married my husband and I ten years ago and he also baptized both of our children at St. Pius. We adore him and once we met Mrs. Bell, when it came time to decide on a school, it was an easy choice!
I grew up in Texas, where my parents still live and am the youngest of two. My husband, Mitch, grew up in Oklahoma City (Bishop McGuiness graduate), where his mother still resides and is the youngest of 6. We both landed in Tulsa after college at OSU--Go Pokes! We have two children, Harper is in first grade, Henry (Hank) is in pre-k 3, and two furry children, Monty (10) and Gus (9).
What inspired you to co-chair the auction?
Mandy: Being a fairly new family to SPX, I joined the committee for the 2016 auction to get more involved and to meet some new people. I'm very glad I made that decision because the auction is such a meaningful and fun event to be apart of! It is truly amazing to see the support that surrounds the parish and school. When asked to Co-Chair, I am honored to share this responsibility with Alisha Deao, especially on its 60th year anniversary! St. Pius X has had some incredible chairs in the past and we look forward to continuing the success of the event.
Alisha: Fr. Matt is a very convincing fellow, and it has to be some kind of sin to turn down a priest doesn't it?! Kidding! I love this school and this community--this is home to me! They cared for and fostered me growing up and continue to do the same for my children, so I am honored to have been asked to co-chair with Mandy. It has given me the chance to give back to something that has given so much to me and my family over the last 60 years.
What goals do you have for this year's auction?
Mandy: First and foremost, we want to build upon our church and school mission of "All things in Christ" by helping the community, having a great time at the event, and celebrating how far this school has come! But, this is also the biggest fundraiser for the school, so it is imperative that we raise as much money as possible to go towards the capital campaign and make this school even greater. We are continuously trying to add new elements to the auction, whether it be with unique items to bid on or integrating new methods. We are fortunate to offer some custom items made especially for SPX by beloved local businesses, to celebrate our 60th anniversary.
Alisha: We are integrating some exciting new technology in this year! We understand that life is hectic, so our goal is to make life a little bit easier by creating things like our online Auction Store where you can order St. Pius items from the comfort of your bed and pj's. Another addition this year is mobile bidding, which will allow people to bid on items from their phones. We are super excited to share all of the new technology with everyone.
What do you still need to make this event a success?
Alisha: We are looking for unique and interesting items to add to our lineup this year. If you have seen something at another fundraising event or have any ideas or items that you would like to see, we would love to hear them!
Mandy: Time, talent, and treasure! We love the diverse community here at SPX and want the auction to reflect that diversity. We hope that all whom want to attend are able, to celebrate 60 wonderful years! However, if you would like to help in a different way, please consider volunteering during the event or the days leading up to it. Stay tuned for an opportunity to sign up and of course this time will go towards your Care and Share hours. We are still accepting sponsorships and auction donation items (big and small), please contact me for more information (918) 346-5809, [email protected].