Shamrocks and Shenanigans is the opportunity to celebrate the halfway mark to St. Patrick’s Day in true Irish tradition with Irish yummies including the Doherty family’s famous Soda bread, Irish music, and games at a fun casino night to benefit the Pat Doherty Memorial Fund for Continuing Education at Network of Community Ministries. The event takes place at Network’s headquarters, 1500 International Parkway in Richardson on Saturday, September 21^st from 6:30 until 10:30 p.m. 

The fund supports Network neighbors as they work to upskill or reskill in their journey to self-sufficiency by providing scholarships for trade certifications, licensing exams, and college courses and to help by eliminating barriers that are preventing them from obtaining a steady job with a livable wage.

In setting up the Pat Doherty Memorial Fund, Pat’s family wanted to honor her many years of volunteering at Network and her passion for empowering Network’s neighbors beyond their current situations. During her lifetime, Pat donated over 3,000 hours of service and 30 years as a volunteer in Network’s reception area, helping with intake of individuals coming in for assistance. Pat was one of the original Network volunteers and an educator herself.  She tragically passed away after a courageous battle with cancer in 2023.

 “Pat’s selfless dedication to Network’s mission has impacted countless neighbors as they sought an improved quality of life. We are grateful to her commitment to our organization and honored to memorialize her legacy of service through this fund,” said Network CEO Abbie Kauffman.

Tickets to Shamrocks and Shenanigans are $50 which includes $2,000 in chips. To purchase, go to https://my.cheddarup.com/c/shamrocks-and-shenanigans/items?cartor call Colleen at (206) 290-9695.

Network of Community Ministries is celebrating its 5th Annual Food Pantry Fork-Off on Saturday evening, October 19^th at 7 p.m. at Network’s headquarters, 1500 International Parkway. Richardson restaurants and businesses will be providing delicious samplings of their best offerings. The evening is filled with dancing, live and silent auctions, an apron contest, activities, games, and more— all to benefit Network’s programs for neighbors in need! Fork-Off is definitely not your typical sit-down dinner. This year’s Honorary Chairs are Richardson residents, Margie and Bill Golden.

“We’ve been privileged to see Network of Community Ministries positively impact our community for nearly four decades, bringing help and hope to those in need. We hope you will join us at the Food Pantry Fork-Off on Saturday, October 19 for a night of great food and entertainment, all while raising funds to support families on their journey toward self-sufficiency.” –Margie and Bill Golden, Honorary Chairs.

Network’s service area encompasses all 14 zip codes of the RISD including areas of North Dallas, Lake Highlands and Garland. Network is a non-denominational, community-based organization serving over 32,000 individuals through over 241,000 units of service annually. Current programs include: Basic Needs Assistance, Mobile Food Pantries, Seniors’ Net, Stabilization Programs, and Mental Health Services.

Abbie Kauffman, Network CEO, expressed her appreciation to the Goldens who have been longtime supporters, "Margie and Bill deserve to be honored by an organization that has much benefited by their involvement and support. Plus, they bring even more fun to a high-spirited event." 

For more information on how to join in the fun at Network’s 5^th Annual Food Pantry Fork-Off, go to https://thenetwork.org/fork-off/ 

For sponsorship information, contact Jillian Netherland at jnetherland@thenetwork.org