Catholic group wants to raise more than $350,000

Catholic Charities of Orange County is aiming to best the $350,000 raised last year at its 22nd annual Mardi Gras Ball in Costa Mesa this month.

Orange County Bishop Tod Brown will also honor Terry and Mary Ann Gillmore at the black-tie event at 6 p.m. at the Westin South Coast Plaza.

“The Mardi Gras Ball allows our diocese to celebrate Catholic Charities as an organization and reflect on their good works throughout Orange County,” Brown said in a news release. “This annual event takes on even more significance this year as Catholic Charities responds to a more-than-40% increase in requests for basic assistance needs in Orange County as a result of the economic crisis. Catholic Charities is robustly responding to this demand as they have to so many other crises in the past. In 2007 and 2008 local staff provided much-needed assistance and support to the victims of wildfires in our community.”

The Gillmores selected “Sharing Our Faith, Hope and Charity” as the theme for this year’s ball. The couple have been involved in many charitable activities in the archdiocese over the years.

— Paul Anderson