Orlando Family Supports Charity with Annual Fundraiser

Socialites from across St. Louis gathered at Orlando Gardens in South County Saturday for the 12th Annual Fundraiser for Multiple Charities.

Each year, the Orlando family hosts an auction and four-course dinner and attendees select a charity of their choice. At the end of the evening, the hosts draw two names and the proceeds from the fundraiser go directly to those two charities.

Last year, the dinner raised $60,000 for Desert AIDS and the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  Saturday, the lucky recipients were the St. Louis Crisis Nursery and Angel’s Arms.

Mike Orlando said the idea for the fundraiser started 13 years ago when the family hosted a birthday party for their father, Sam Orlando.

At the first dinner, Sam Orlando said, “This has been such a terrific party, let’s do it again. However, next year, you will pay to attend the party and we will donate the proceeds to charity.”

The dinner has a different theme each year at $150 a plate and many of the same people have been coming since the first fundraiser.

“They want to see what we’re going to do next,” Mike Orlando said. “They come for the party, but they come to support their own favorite charity.”

This year, the Orlando Foundation surpassed $500,000 given to charity through the event.

“Just the look on the people’s faces when they know they won… it’s great,” he said.