Fall 2013 Newsletter - Queen of Peace Center

Queen of Peace Center
Past Events in support of Queen of Peace Center
1. Connie Neumann, Executive Director Emeritus, Guys and Dolls Fall Event Chair 2. Jon Carlson (Board of
Directors) with Tom Seeler, Golf Committee 3. Joe and Nancy Giljum (Board of Directors), Golf Underwriters
4. Lane Crosser – DIVERSEY – Platinum Sponsor 5. Mixed Team Division – 1st Place – Jo D Duncan Armstrong
(NHCC Long Drive Co-Coordinator), Paul Lorenzini, Mary Anstey, Michelle Lorenzini, Jim Anstey. 6. John
Reyerson, Cory Potalivo, Nick Mirkovich – RUBBERMAID– Platinum Sponsor 7. Gina Della Camera, Closest
to the Pin East #10 and Longest Drive West #17 8. Mens Championship Flight, 1st Place – Mike Lordo,
Jason Mallot, Rick Randazzo, Jim Lordo – LORDO’S DIAMONDS – Gold Sponsor 9. EMERSON TEAM - Major
Sponsor - Barry Sponsler, Derek Whipple, Brian Sponsler, Mark Mager 10. Tim Rechner, Scott Hoeft and Carl
Allen – HERITAGE BAG – Platinum Sponsor 11. Women’s Flight – 1st Place – Julie Wright, Audrey Brasher,
Donna McDonald, Margaux Soukenik, Gina Della Camera 12. Major Sponsor Dinner – LaVerne Lorenzini and
Tom Zatkulak – Event Chairs, Paula Stewart, Ed Kanya – SCA – Platinum Sponsor 13. Tom Auffenberg, Bud
Pennington, Ryan Pennington, John Pennington and Will Hildebrandt 14. BUNZL – Major Sponsor - Jeff Desits,
Chris Carlson, Tom Zatkulak with LaVerne Lorenizini and Lara Pennington 15. Staff Day Away – Linda Cannon,
Linnea Brady, Lara Pennington, Ashley Youngt, Dorothy Crawford, Sr. Rose Pfannebecker 16. Staff Day Away –
Toni Jordan, Sara Beeler, Rosie Dickens, Margaret Nelson, Kelly Carlblom, Ray Lee, Carolyn Boyle 17. Staff Day
Away – Susan Matheis, Trish Heiser, Khadijah Muhammad, Becca Gorley, Javania Webb, Sydney Washington,
Stacy Duvall 18. Bill Sydes – PACTIV – Platinum Sponsor with Lara Pennington 19. Paul Lehnert, Kory Cern –
GOJO – Platinum Sponsor 20. Mary Desits, Nancy Giljum, Martha Weidneheft – Sponsor Dinner Attendees
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THANK YOU
1987 -2013
26th Annual Invitational
a huge success….
Sixty-five teams played through the beautiful
East and West courses at Norwood Hills
Country Club raising much needed funds to
support programs and services for women
with addiction, their children and families.
The widely successful annual tournament
netted over $320,000.
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It was a great day for golf at the QOPC
Invitational Golf Tournament on July 15, 2013.
Event Major Sponsors were Bunzl Distribution
and Emerson.
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26th Annual Invitational
Golf Tournament
July 15, 2013
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Thanks to all of our supporters and staff for carrying
out the mission of Queen of Peace Center
Players were treated to a delicious luncheon
followed by a 12:00 p.m. shotgun start. With
the sun shining overhead, the golfers carted
off to their respective starting holes for a
great day of golf. Players took part in the
day’s contests which included Closest to the
Pin, Longest Drive, Hole in One, and a Putting
Contest. To close out the day’s festivities,
players and guests attended a reception which
included a silent and oral auction, dinner
and awards ceremony. The team of Lordo’s
Diamonds was overall Championship flight
winner, with the Lorenzini Mixed Team and
McDonald/Soukenik Women’s Team taking
home first place prizes in their flights.
A special thanks to all of our sponsors,
underwriters and volunteers. This tournament
is a great indication of their continued
commitment to Queen of Peace Center.
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ST. LOUIS, MO
PERMIT NO. 5534
325 North Newstead
St. Louis, MO 63108
THROUGH YOUR
WORKS OF MERCY
2874
LIVES
WERE FOREVER
CHANGED
EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE
MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
We are grateful
for our supportive
Partners
DONATE TODAY
Donations of $100 or more to Queen
of Peace Center may be eligible for a
50% Missouri Tax Credit and may also
qualify for a corporate matching gift
from your employer.
WWW.QOPCSTL.ORG
HOPE, DIGNITY AND RESPECT
“Our mission is strong, our vision is clear, and our faith is enduring.”
FALL 2013
A LEADER, MENTOR AND SUPPORTER
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED THE SAME PATH
Toni Jordan was surrounded by her family and
loved ones when she received the Recovery
Advocate of the Year Award by the Missouri
Recovery Network. Toni accepted the award
at the Missouri Department of Mental
Health’s Consumer Conference in front of 500
participants consisting of consumers, family
members, mental health professionals, and
government staff. “Is she really talking about
me?” Toni asked herself, feeling a sense
of disbelief that her life has led her to this
point.
It wasn’t that long ago when Toni was a
client of Queen of Peace Center (QOPC).
Toni came to QOPC in January 2007 after
30 months in the state penitentiary. Toni
had struggled with addiction for nearly 20
years and in 2007, was ready to change her
life. As a mother of 5 and wife of 15 years,
Toni embraced treatment as an educational
and therapeutic opportunity. She thrived in
treatment, successfully graduated in January
2008 and stayed on as a volunteer to “give
back what has been given to me.”
Today, Toni has been an employee of QOPC
for 4 years. She works in the capacity of
Peer Specialist. Her job allows her to mentor,
“give back
what has been
given to me.”
guide and inspire clients who struggle just
as Toni did. Toni has become an activist
for recovery, an advocate for women and
communities, a voice for the voiceless. There
is no person more deserving of the Recovery
Advocate of the Year Award than Toni Jordan.
Toni’s advocacy efforts include bringing
awareness to her Representative to expand
Medicaid, she has spoken with the State
Treasurer on supporting housing for
individuals with a mental illness, requested
continued support for drug treatment
programs from Senator Clair McCaskill,
traveled to Washington D.C. to support the
Rebecca Project for Human Rights, and is
a member of the Missouri Department of
Mental Health’s State Advisory Council. In
the nomination form, Toni’s daughter wrote,
“She has demonstrated great strength in the
past years, going from a consistent addict
of twenty years to a woman who has become
a leader and supporter for those who have
walked the same path.” Congratulations
Toni.
Executive Director’s Notes
This has been a season of transition and celebration at Queen of
Peace Center (QOPC). As this newsletter highlights, we have a lot to
be thankful for at the Center. We have been blessed with tremendous
leadership in our board of directors and hard work and dedication in our
staff. This season, we say goodbye to many long-term board members
and staff that have helped pave the way for a better future of behavioral
health.
This past October, QOPC staff celebrated our second annual Staff Day Away Retreat
at the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet Mother House. This day gives the nearly
100 staff members a day to learn, grow, build as a team, and have fun. The Staff
Day Away allows our team the opportunity to recharge and become reinvigorated
with the mission and vision of QOPC.
As we approach the holiday season and close out another year, I want to express
my sincere gratitude to all of the supporters, donors, board members and staff that
have shaped the Queen of Peace Center community. I hope this newsletter gives you
a glimpse into the world of Queen of Peace Center. We invite you to join us on our
journey to provide the best care to women with addiction, their children and families.
Lara B. Pennington, Executive Director
In other development news, Queen of
Peace Center would like to thank Saint
Louis University, Mary Queen of Peace
The Center has had the privilege of 41
School, Cardinals Care Foundation
years of combined volunteer commitment and the Saint Louis County Children’s
from three board members who recently Service Fund (CSF) for their generosity
retired from the Board of Directors;
and support this past year.
Pam Duffy, Mike Richards and Ellen
The School of Social Work at Saint Louis
O’Sullivan.
University held a trivia night in which
Pam Duffy, first female board president, half of the proceeds were donated to the
served on fundraising committees
Center. Additionally, SLUCare Practice
and responded to all request offering
Management Operations held a chili cook
her professional advice on projects
off this fall and donated the proceeds to
throughout the building. Ellen O’Sullivan, Queen of Peace Center. Peace for Kids
an ambassador of good will, always
Child Development Center was able to
worked with compassion and endorsed a purchase computer software thanks to
voice of encouragement. Mike Richards Mary Queen of Peace’s eighth grade class
served as chair of the Board Nominating and the Cardinals Care Foundation. With
Committee and maintained a level of
committed funding from CSF for years
giving for all events. Their service over
2014-2015, the Adolescent Resource
the years has been an inspiration to all. Center hopes to expand its early
intervention and prevention programs
Please join us in welcoming our new
to at risk youth involved in the Ferguson
board members, Jeff Desits, Tony
Municipal Courts.
Kennedy, Karen Leeker and Victoria
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Osborne.
Partnerships like these demonstrate a
commitment to improve the Saint Louis
Community and the lives of the most
vulnerable.
Queen of Peace Center
Board of Directors
Executive Director
Lara B. Pennington
Board Members
President: Jean Soukenik
Vice-President: Donna McDonald
Treasurer: Charles Brown
Secretary: Nancy Giljum
James Barnes
Adrienne Berra
Jon Carlson
Jeff Desits
Tony Kennedy
Karen Leeker
LaVerne Lorenzini
Robert McCulloch
Terese Mitchusson
Victoria Osborne
Addie Tompkins
Advisory Board Ex Officio
Ronald Faulbaum Jack Lally
George Marklin
Executive Director Emeritus
Joan O’Reilly
Constance S. Neumann
J. Kim Tucci
Thomas Zatkulak
IN HONOR & IN MEMORY
3-31-2013 to 10-29-2013
IN HONOR OF
QOPC College Hill Partnership
Elizabeth Bohn
QOPC Family Program
Cassie Ambuehl
IN MEMORY OF
Sr. Jean Harvey
Elizabeth Mason
Tyler McKinney
Cassie Ambuehl
Daniel Morawitz
Richard and Constance
Neumann
Murray Nance
Peggy Nance
John (Jack) Ryan
Vincent and Margie
Stanec
Dr. Michael Smith
Richard and Constance
Neumann
Family-Centered Behavioral Health Treatment
FAMILY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
The Family Program celebrated the summer
with a trip to Six Flags and a St. Louis
Cardinals game. The women and their
children were filled with anticipation on the
bus ride to Six Flags and after the outing
they discussed how blessed they were to feel
so “normal” by having a family fun day with
their children.
The children, dressed in their Cardinals
gear, envisioned dreams of playing on the
field themselves. The families that attended
stressed their gratitude, and all cheered
together as the Cardinals brought home a
victory.
Thanks for “paying it forward” Cassie!
The field trips have served as a motivating
factor for our women, and also gave them the
opportunity to experience how fulfilling and
fun life can be outside of addiction.
A special thanks to Cassie Ambuehl,
Family Program Child Therapist, who
made a generous donation so that
the women and children would have
the opportunity to go on field trips
this summer.
Enriching Activities
Our specialty is women and babies at Our
Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH). We strive
to engage the women in many enriching
activities such as gardening, cooking,
facilitating their own Heroin Anonymous/
Narcotics Anonymous meetings and most
recently the grand opening of a Momma
and Baby Boutique run by clients. The
clients are responsible for accepting the
gently used clothing or items for women,
children and babies specific to the season.
The store operates on a Mama and Baby
Bucks point system where clients have the
opportunity to “trade-in” an item or donate.
We are currently accepting donations of
diapers, baby bags, breast pumps, nursing
bras, blankets, crib sheets, lotions, wipes,
pacifiers, infant clothing, toiletries and
maternity clothing for our moms.
Peace for Kids Child
Development Center
This past spring Peace for Kids planted
a vegetable garden next to their
playground. The garden produced enough
vegetation for the children’s lunch. The
community garden allowed the children
and their families to participate in an
activity experiencing a sense of belonging
and pride in their community while
learning about science, math and the
world around them. The two through five
year olds helped water the garden, weed
and monitor the growth of the veggies.
Our Little Friends Show Off
Their Halloween Attire
STAFF NEWS
On July 31, 2013, Queen
of Peace Center bid a fond
farewell to Mrs. Lauren
Meyer-Banks after more
than 20 years of dutiful
service to the organization,
ten of which were spent as
Program Manager of the St. Philippine Home.
Under Lauren’s leadership, St. Philippine
Home continued to maintain the excellent
standard of care that is recognized throughout
the region.
Although St. Philippine Home will be absent
of Lauren’s physical presence, her indelible
footprint has been left behind on the lives of
the numerous clients that she has touched
throughout her tenure. Lauren is wished the
best of everything as she embarks on the next
adventure in her life’s journey.
Heartfelt congratulations are extended to
Gwen Esty, new Program Manager and
Khadija Mohammad, Counselor/Community
Support Specialist, as they undertake the
challenges of new roles within the Queen of
Peace Center family located at St. Philippine
Home.
On September 25, 2013, Pat Seeler, Director
of Development at Queen of Peace Center,
received the Cardinal Rigali Service Award
from the Archdiocese of Saint Louis for her
long-term service to those in need within
the Archdiocese. The Cardinal Rigali Service
Award is a recognition and appreciation
for outstanding long-term employees
and volunteers by the Archbishop and
Archdiocesan leadership.
Pat began volunteering with Queen of
Peace Center, a member of the Federation
of Catholic Charities, in 1991, joined the
Board of Directors in 1998 and was hired as
Development Director in 2003. Over the past
22 years, Pat has given her time, talent and
Most Reverend Edward M. Rice, Auxiliary Bishop;
Pat Seeler, Award Recipient; Most Reverend Robert
J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis
treasure to support the most vulnerable in
our community. Her work has brought to life
the values of Catholic social teaching and
mission of the Church. Pat has lived out her
life as a Catholic by giving of herself to those
most in need. In January 2014, Pat will retire
from Queen of Peace Center. Her life’s work at
the Center is deserving of recognition through
the Cardinal Rigali Service Award.
A Home for Treatment and Recovery
In 2008, Lara Pennington along with
several QOPC graduates and women in
long term recovery formed Project COPE
(Consumer Organizations for Planning and
Empowerment). Project COPE was created
with the purpose of including QOPC clients
in the design and delivery of programs and
policies. Project COPE had opportunities
for 1) leadership development through
Peer Specialist training and certification
(Certified Missouri Peer Specialist, Missouri
Recovery Support Specialist), 2) advocacy
(The Rebecca Project for Human Right’s
Sacred Authority) and 3) program design
and implementation through the Consumer
Advisory Board (CAB).
The roots of Project COPE show QOPC’s
legacy of recovery and community oriented
programs. Fast forward to the present-Project COPE has evolved into the “CAB”.
Why continue this peer- and recoveryoriented program? QOPC women in long
term recovery want to give back and
want to live full lives. Each woman has
a unique and powerful story, as well
as a vision to see the world as a more
peaceful place for their children.
CAB’s recent highlights include: a fantastic
Sock-Hop dance (to celebrate Recovery
Month) in September; a stellar Karaoke
Night DJ’d by QOPC’s very own Mr. Raymond
Lee; successful Summer fundraising
Members of Project COPE, graduates of
QOPC, have accomplished amazing feats in through 50/50 Raffles; Missouri Recovery
their tenure: full time employment at QOPC, Support Specialist training (7 QOPC
participants); and the Missouri Department
local and state recognition and awards,
of Mental Health’s Real Voices Real Choices
state and national advocacy of familycentered treatment and recovery programs Conference (8 participants).
for women, and other related policies that If you are interested in more information
support family reunification, healing and and/or in getting involved with QOPC’s CAB,
recovery.
please contact (314) 531-0511 for Rebecca
Gorley (x205) or Toni Jordan (x218).