Frank Layden to join Bishop's Dinner virtual event

Friday, Aug. 14, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY – Bishop Oscar A. Solis, former Utah Jazz coach Frank Layden, and an a capella song by the choristers of The Madeleine Choir School all will be featured during the first-ever virtual Bishop’s Dinner to benefit the Cathedral of the Madeleine. 

The Bishop’s Dinner has been an annual event for more than a decade. In the past, it has drawn well-dressed crowds to the Grand America for a formal dinner and guest speaker. This year, however, no such formal event can be held, because of safety concerns due to the pandemic. 

However, the cathedral derives much of its operating costs from the fundraiser, so organizers are putting together a virtual event.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis will participate in the celebration of the cathedral from the comfort of his living room. He will be joined remotely by Layden, who will be his special guest. Melanie Malinka will direct the choristers from the Cathedral of the Madeline. There will be a special video with highlights of previous years, and some behind-the-scenes looks at the cathedral. All segments of the program will be prerecorded.

In the five days leading up to the event, short videos about the cathedral will be released daily at noon on the cathedral’s YouTube channel. A donation portal on the cathedral’s webpage has been set up, and will remain active through the end of the year.

In addition to the program, this year the Bishop’s Dinner will feature an opportunity drawing; the prize is dinner for four in a private room at Valter’s Osteria with the bishop; wine included. The winner will be announced during the program.

“It would be quite the lovely evening,” said Patricia Wesson, the cathedral’s director of development, who is organizing the event. “It’s very unusual; we don’t usually do this sort of thing with the Bishop’s Dinner, but it’s a very unusual year, so we’re just trying new things.”

With this new take on the annual fundraiser, organizers are hoping to raise $200,000 for the cathedral. So far, they have received $85,000 in sponsorships and private donations.

The financial need is particularly great this year: In addition to a significant drop in donations due to the pandemic, the cathedral has had to repair damage resulting from the recent earthquakes. It also must replace its boiler system; the replacement is expected to be installed by fall.

“It has been a particularly challenging year,” Wesson said. 

To be a sponsor for the Bishop’s Dinner, enter the opportunity drawing, or donate to the upkeep of the cathedral, visit the event online registration page: https://bit.ly/3fZJWKj.