Madison County Catholic Charities Hosts 25th Help On The Move Annual Fundraiser
Madison County, Illinois – Catholic Charities will be hosting their 25th annual Help On The Move fundraiser on Saturday, April 18, 2026 starting at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Julia’s Banquet Center, 101 Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, IL. The evening will include dinner, drinks, DJ music, silent & live auction, activities, and $10,000 in raffle prizes. This year there will be one $5,000 winner, one $2,000 winner, and three $1,000 winners.
The event will include the presentation of the 2026 Community Service Awards. Dinner tickets are $60 each. Raffle tickets are $25 each or buy 2 and get 1 free. Tickets may be purchased on our website HYPERLINK “https://cc.dio.org/events/madison-county” https://cc.dio.org/events/madison-county or by calling 1.618.462.0634.
The Mary Alyce Beardslee Award, presented to Don Norton, epitomizes what it means to be a dedicated board member. His service on the Advisory Boards of both Madison County Catholic Charities and the Catholic Children’s Home has made a significant impact on the lives of abused and neglected children, as well as families in need. Don is a goal-oriented, no-nonsense man who treats everyone with kindness and respect. His philanthropic leadership and generosity are an inspiration. Don and his wife Marilyn adopted two children through Catholic Charities, fulfilling a lifetime commitment as loving parents.
The Father Quilligan Award will be presented to Dick Alford. Dick has served on the board of Christmas Wonderland, holding the exalted title of “Head Grandpa” for the Grandpa Gang. He leads the group of male volunteers responsible for the success of the Christmas light show every year in Rock Springs Park. He is on the Alton Park Commission, recognized by the Sons of the American Revolution for Patriotism in the display of the Flag, charter participant in the Wreaths Across America, and stands daily guard over Haskell Park on Henry Street, and particularly the Lucy Haskell Playhouse. Dick is well known and loved throughout the community.
“Our annual fundraiser provides us with critical funding to help meet the needs of our clients” said Denise Burton, Area Director of Madison County Catholic Charities. “The people in our community have been very supportive of our efforts for over 70 years now. We are also incredibly grateful for the generosity of our sponsors.”
Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting our programs including: Professional Counseling Solutions, MedAssist, Guardian Angel Food Pantry, Mobile Food Pantry, Homeless Prevention, Transportation and Identification assistance, and Legal Services.
Since 1941 Catholic Charities has provided services in Madison, Bond, Jersey, and Calhoun counties, with offices in Alton and Granite City. If you are unable to attend the annual fundraiser, but would like to make a donation you may do so at our website: HYPERLINK “https://cc.dio.org/ways_to_give/donate/” cc.dio.org/ways_to_give/donate/. For more information about Madison County Catholic Charities, to make a donation or to volunteer contact Denise Burton, Area Director at 618-462-0634 or HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]” [email protected].
