The CEO`s Corner Inside this Issue

We are Here
May 2010 Issue
Helping Hearts Cookies for Haiti
St. Patrick Center clients, staff & community rally for disaster relief
The CEO’s
Corner
Dan Buck
chief executive officer
We knew things would be tough when we entered
Fiscal Year 2010 last July: a sagging economy, sluggish
donations, community and client needs at record levels.
It seemed more things were uncertain than certain, but
little did we know the miracles that awaited!
The day after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, St. Patrick
Center homeless clients stopped CEO Dan Buck
outside the agency, wanting to know what they could
do to help the Haitians. One of the clients suggested
a bake sale, and within 48 hours, Helping Hearts
Cookies for Haiti was born in the Culinary Suite in the
BEGIN New Venture Center small business incubator!
Starting January 19, two dozen homeless men
and women volunteered their time to bake 30,000
heart-shaped sugar cookies to sell to local businesses,
churches and schools for community bake sales.
Hollyberry Baking Company donated time and
materials to train and supervise the clients in cookie
production. St. Patrick Center donors, including
Wells Fargo Advisors, World Wide Technology and
GFI Digital, covered all ingredient costs, allowing
100 percent of the proceeds to go to the CRUDEM
Foundation’s Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, the largest
medical facility in Northern Haiti.
Community volunteers also helped with baking,
packaging and distribution in one of the St. Louis
area’s largest bake sales. The business community
embraced the endeavor, including GFI Digital
and several other local company employees who
volunteered their time February 12 to distribute
15,000 Helping Hearts Cookies at a St. Louis Blues
game. Donations collected went to Haitian earthquake
relief efforts.
On February 22, several clients presented a $57,000
check to CRUDEM Foundation representatives for the
total funds they helped raise. “We don’t sit on a board
or work for a foundation, but we get to show our
love,” said client Eric Burse. “We’ll never know the
magnitude of what $57,000 will do for our brothers
and sisters in Haiti,” added client Roger Mudd.
“Helping Hearts Cookies for Haiti was a spectacular
idea,” says Charles Dubuque, CRUDEM Foundation
board member. “Our entire board was stunned by the
creativity and generosity of St. Patrick Center clients,
staff and partners who looked outside of their needs
and into someone else’s.”
We have good news to share!
3 stories of success
“There was no other organization I
found that could help me with the multiple
problems I had. St. Patrick Center was
there for me.”
Ronald Mooney became homeless
after his service in the United
States Army. He experienced
mental health issues, including post traumatic stress
syndrome, bipolar disorder and drug and alcohol
addiction. “I was homeless and didn’t have anywhere
to go.” After hearing about St. Patrick Center,
Ronald enrolled in the agency’s Homeless Veterans
Re-integration Program (HVRP) and received housing,
employment and mental health services. Since then,
he has taken advantage of many programs, including
Living Skills, Project HERO and Sherwin Williams’
painters training. “I’ve been here 12 months through
classes, and I’m clean and sober!” Ronald is excited
to continue his journey and looks forward to building
permanent, positive change. “If St. Patrick Center
wasn’t here, we’d have more crime and more people
suffering. Because of St. Patrick Center, I have a new
chance in life to be independent!”
“St. Patrick Center has helped me in
so many ways. St. Patrick Center is truly
a blessing to me.”
Sonja Lee is a recovering
addict, and now knows how
her addiction led her down the
wrong path. She lost custody
of her two daughters and was homeless when she
learned about St. Patrick Center’s Project Protect,
a regional partnership that provides comprehensive
services for homeless and poor families with children in
foster care, or at risk of going into foster care, due to
parental substance abuse. Sonja started working with
three Project Protect counselors and her life started
changing. “Project Protect helped me obtain housing;
they helped me with legal issues, rent, utilities, and
best of all, they helped me get my girls back.” As
a St. Patrick Center client, she was also able to
participate in food, clothing, Thanksgiving and
Christmas giveaways to help her get back on her
feet. Today, Sonja is clean and sober! She and her
daughters have been living in their apartment for
more than a year. “St. Patrick Center was there for
me on every step of my journey.”
“No other employment network has
touched me personally like the GO!
Network has with its great sense of
caring and sharing.”
Don was a Maritz vice president
when his job was eliminated due
to the economic crisis. “Being
unemployed was an emotional WOW; I had two
teenagers in high school… what was I going to do?”
He came to St. Patrick Center’s GO! Network for
basic training on how to pursue a job in the current
economy, but he found much more. “GO! Network
also addressed my personal well being needs and that
really hit me in the heart.” Don says he attended
several other local employment networks but did not
feel the same sense of caring and sharing about the
members. He participated in the GO! Network as
a member and also committee chair. And he got a
job! Don is now director of sales and operations for
a training and development solutions company. He
credits St. Patrick Center, the GO! Network and its
sponsors for being willing to help people in need
from all walks of life.
To view Ronald’s, Sonja’s and Don’s videos, and other success stories and videos, visit www.stpatrickcenter.org.
The year’s theme is We are Here. We’ve campaigned
to let our community know that even in tough times,
St. Patrick Center is here to assist those in need.
Nowhere was “We” more evident than in our Helping
Hearts Cookies for Haiti initiative. Just hours after
the horrific images of the Haitian earthquake began
appearing on the news, our clients asked how they
could help. These were clients in recovery, without
homes, without jobs, without any sense of stability,
yet they wanted to do something to help the victims.
One client said: “We want to hold a bake sale.”
Then Hollyberry Baking Company said: “We will
teach your clients how to bake cookies.” Then our
staff said: “We want to help make this happen.” In
fewer than 48 hours, “We” had created a new cookie
fundraiser complete with production, distribution and
marketing plans.
As word began to spread about Helping Hearts
Cookies for Haiti, corporate friends stepped up. Wells
Fargo said: “We can purchase the raw ingredients.”
World Wide Technology said: “We will sponsor
community, school and church bake sales.” Dozens
of local companies said: “We will buy hundreds
of cookies and sell them to raise additional money
for Haiti.” Even another non-profit, the YMCA
of Greater St. Louis, joined the initiative by selling
cookies to their members.
Collectively, “We” surpassed our dreams! More than
two dozen homeless clients prepared, baked, wrapped
and distributed 30,000 cookies over a four-week
earthquake relief effort. Our community of caring
clients, staff, volunteers and generous donors raised
$57,000 for the CRUDEM Foundation’s Hôpital
Sacré Coeur in Milot, the largest medical facility in
Northern Haiti.
Now, as we end this year of turmoil and challenges,
I’m convinced that the Holy Spirit inspired our We
are Here theme! “We” refers not only to St. Patrick
Center’s 28 programs, but also to everyone who
makes this agency a place of hope and inspiration:
clients, donors, volunteers, corporate supporters and
program partners.
God has turned things around for us this year, and
we’ve gotten more than we envisioned: a broader,
deeper reminder that “We” are not in this struggle
alone. Together with our clients, donors, business
and corporate friends and staff, “We” are most
definitely here!
Inside this Issue
McMurphy’s Grill celebrates 20 years!..................page 2
Sports Trivia Championship & Irish Open...........page 2
A letter from Jan Rasmussen.................................page 2
Grateful for gifts.....................................................page 2
Captured on camera...............................................page 3
GO! Network marks one year!...............................page 3
Good News story....................................................page 4
Calendar of events.................................................page 4
Volunteer opportunities..........................................page 4
Volunteer spotlight.................................................page 4
Grateful for Gifts
McMurphy’s Grill celebrates 20 years!
• St. Patrick Center in January received the
prestigious Catholic Charities USA Centennial
Recognition Program Award. SPC received $25,000
for best practices in CCUSA’s poverty issue areas:
health, housing, hunger, economic security and
education/job training.
Serving up permanent, positive change from 1990-2010
“We are incredibly blessed to have received ongoing
support for this innovative program for 20 years,” says
St. Patrick Center CEO Dan Buck. “Our McMurphy’s
Grill clients are dedicated and motivated to build
permanent, positive change in their lives.”
Not only does McMurphy’s Grill teach St. Patrick Center
clients food service skills, it also helps them develop
good work habits. Clients who are interested in working
in food service are referred to McMurphy’s for three
months of restaurant training in which they learn how
to prepare food in a restaurant kitchen and how to
serve or bus tables. After they have completed their
training, St. Patrick Center helps them find permanent
employment in a restaurant.
• During the 2009 holiday season, the Trevisano
family of Crestwood once again made St. Patrick
Center the beneficiary of their popular Teddy Bear
Christmas Land light display, raising nearly $3,300
for SPC clients.
St. Patrick Center is excited to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of McMurphy’s Grill, one of the agency’s
longest-running employment programs and full-service
restaurant located in downtown St. Louis.
In 1990, McMurphy’s Grill opened its doors as the
first-in-the-nation restaurant for training homeless/
mentally ill clients. The Boeing Foundation and Boeing
Employees Community Fund provided start-up funding
while Paul and Midge McKee donated the restaurant
location. In addition, J. Kim Tucci and John Ferrara of
The Pasta House Company donated kitchen pans and
silverware, as well as training for the restaurant’s first
employees. Currently, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
and the Boeing Foundation help underwrite costs of
McMurphy’s Grill.
Thanks to McMurphy’s Grill, 30 to 40 people discover
successful careers in the restaurant industry each year.
“For people who have a passion and desire to do better
with their lives, there’s no better program out there,” says
McMurphy’s Grill client Paula Reynolds. “It betters the
community in ways that are innumerable.”
McMurphy’s Grill is located at 614 North 11th Street, at
Lucas Street, in downtown St. Louis. The restaurant is
open for lunch Tuesday-Friday from 11am until 3pm.
For more information about McMurphy’s Grill, including
how to book your reservation, private party or box lunch
order, visit the McMurphy’s page on our website at
www.stpatrickcenter.org or contact general manager
Nunzio Lama at 314.231.3006.
Sports Trivia success & Irish Open preparation
• U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Development John Fernandez in
November presented a $250,000 Economic
Development Administration (EDA) Performance
Award to St. Patrick Center in recognition of
outstanding project implementation and outcomes
related to the EDA’s investment in the BEGIN
Center, consisting of the BEGIN New Venture
Center and BEGIN Training & Education Center.
• Mechanical Contractors and Plumbers & Pipefitters
donated $9,940 to St. Patrick Center, displaying
their continued support for the agency’s programs
and services.
• Thank you to Boeing! The company’s charitable
trust and employee community fund provided two
Fiscal Year 2010 grants for McMurphy’s Grill and
other St. Patrick Center employment programs.
St. Patrick Center’s event season continues
Arena at St. Louis University, while NFL Hall of Famer
and former St. Louis Cardinal Roger Wehrli served
as Honorary Chair. Kilcoyne’s co-host was national
comedian John Caponera (complete with his Harry
Caray impersonations).
The Sports Trivia Championship was made possible by
325 volunteers and dozens of sponsors – companies that
generously donated venue, airtime, food, beverage and
other goods and services to keep expenses down for the
direct benefit of SPC clients.
Thanks to the many sponsors, partners and celebrity
participants, the 7th Annual Sports Trivia Championship
presented by Budweiser raised $864,000 in revenue and
contributed goods and services to benefit St. Patrick
Center clients and their families. Out of 93 trivia teams,
the Springfield Isotopes took the Grand Prize with a
score of 83, winning season tickets to St. Louis Blues,
St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, plus Gateway
International Raceway tickets.
Martin Kilcoyne, KTVI TV Sports Director, returned
as host for the February 12, 2010 event at Chaifetz
Make plans now to attend the 26th Annual St. Patrick’s
Irish Open sponsored by Major Brands. Our elegant
dinner auction will be
held Saturday, June 5 at
the Four Seasons Hotel St.
Louis. Our distinguished
golf tournament will be
held Monday, June 7 at
Norwood Hills Country
Club. For dinner and golf
reservations, or to sponsor
the event, contact Lindsey
Gibson at 314.802.1987 or
[email protected].
To donate an auction item, contact Katie Holcomb
at 314.802.1976 or [email protected].
We are Here because of your thoughtfulness!
Jan Rasmussen, Chief Development Officer
Chronicles is a publication of St. Patrick Center,
distributed three times a year to share the good news
with our large group of donors and volunteers, plus
grow the circle of those who believe in and support
the mission of St. Patrick Center.
If you have feedback or ideas, please contact our editor:
Kelly Peach, Senior Director of Communications,
314.802.0687 or [email protected]
Main switchboard: 314.802.0700
Main fax: 314.802.1982
Donations: 314.802.0684
McMurphy’s Grill: 314.231.3006
Media/Information: 314.802.0687
Programs/services: 314.802.0700
Tributes/memorials: 314.802.0684
Volunteer opportunities: 314.802.0681
Website: www.stpatrickcenter.org
St. Patrick Center is accredited
by the Council on Accreditation,
for complying with governance,
management and service
standards. The COA is a world
leader in advocating for quality
children and family services.
Dear Friends,
I love spring because
of the new beginning it
brings to life each year.
It is amazing to watch
trees turn green with new
leaves and beautiful flowers
burst into color from
tiny buds. It is incredible
how God provides us
with this opportunity
for a new perspective on
life each spring. Imagine
experiencing spring everyday… we do at St. Patrick
Center! We see people who are homeless, or poor
because they don’t have job skills, emerge from poverty
into having their own places to live and jobs to go to
every day. Imagine celebrating with someone who has
been sober for a year!
We could not do this without all of our St. Patrick
Center friends who give so much of their time, talents
and treasures. We are Here because of your compassion
and generous spirit of giving! Each of you touch my
heart with your thoughtfulness… it is such an honor to
know so many of you personally.
During this springtime of new beginnings, we ask you
to consider helping men and women who need an
opportunity for another chance… a chance to make
permanent, positive change in their lives and in the lives
of their children… a chance to become independent!
You can help in so many ways. Join the Shamrock
Society with your gift of $1,000 to help change the life
of someone living in poverty. Become a Key Player
Supporter with your gift of $250 and you can help a
family move from homelessness to housing. Please know
that your gift of any amount will help our homeless and
poor neighbors build permanent, positive change.
Being part of St. Patrick Center allows all of us to
see first hand how the potential of the human spirit is
endless… both in our clients and our friends!
Most gratefully,
314.802.0683
Captured on Camera
Board of Directors
St. Patrick Center – in, out & about!
Archbishop
of St. Louis
Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson
Officers
Maureen A. McGlynn, President
James P. Kavanaugh, Vice President
Stephen M. O’Hara, Vice President, Strategic Direction
Robert G. Leonard, Secretary
Margaret D. Fisher, Treasurer
During the 2010 Pot O’ Gold Kettle Drive at area Schnucks stores,
volunteer “leprechauns” helped raise $47,000 for the homeless and
poor clients of St. Patrick Center.
World Series Champ and St. Louis resident, Darryl Strawberry
perfects his batting stance on the stage of Chaifetz Arena at
St. Patrick Center’s 7th Annual Sports Trivia Championship.
Directors
Joseph T. Ambrose
Bruce J. Anderson, Ed.D.
Margaret R. Benz, RN, MSN, C-ANP
Galen D. Bingham
Phillip W. Bracken
Charles E. Coyle
Roy E. Gillespie
John F. Herber, Jr.
Diane B. Herndon
Harry Kennedy
Robin M. Kuo
John M. Lally
Susan E. Lombardo
Judge David C. Mason
Ruth Murray, RN, Ed.D., FAAN
Michael E. O’Mara
Janice Orlando
David A. Peacock
Christian B. Peper, Jr.
Dean Pilcher
Patrick M. Quinn
Anthony J. Short
Pamela Talley, MSN, APRN, BC, CSACII
Founder & Director Emeritus
Edith C. Cunnane
Long-time St. Patrick Center “super” volunteer, Cori Stebelman,
graciously accepts the Georgia Frontiere Community Quarterback
from Lucia Rodriguez.
St. Patrick Center CEO Dan Buck poses with Cor Jesu and St. Joe
students who raised 20,525 pairs of socks and underwear for SPC
clients in the schools’ annual Funderwear Challenge.
Director Emeritus
Leo P. Paradis
Executive Officers
Dan Buck, Chief Executive Officer
Gregory A. Vogelweid, Chief Operating Officer
Jan F. Rasmussen, Chief Development Officer
Elaine St. Clemmons, Chief Program Officer
Board of Trustees
A City Seeds Urban Farm client takes a break from her gardening
to pose for a photo taken by a fellow SPC client and City Seeds
co-worker for UMSL’s PPRC Photography Project.
After completing the curriculum which teaches essential skills for
successful independent living, Living Skills participants proudly
display their graduation certificates.
Participants of the 12 week-long JET employment program are all
smiles after their graduation ceremony.
St. Patrick Center donors and volunteers enjoy a spread of
delicious brunch items courtesy of McMurphy’s Grill at the
annual St. Patrick’s Day Brunch.
GO! Network going strong after one-year anniversary
Suzanne Pratl,
Co-Chair
Cori Cunnane-Stebelman,
Co-Chair
Alicia Albus
Margaret Aylward
James Blase
Pat Brannon
John Bruenger
Cheryl Cavins
Kenneth Coyne
Leo Cremins
Edith Cunnane
Laraine Davis
Jeffrey Deckelbaum
John Denneen
Anna Doyle
Michael Doyle
John Eilermann, Jr.
Harry Fabick
Betty Farrell
Sherman George
Edward Glotzbach
Greg Goltermann
Mark Grieman
Michael Heck
Barbara Hershfelt
Jeff Hoelscher
Jean Jackson
Ken Kadel
Nancy LaVigne
Mark Leadlove
Carole Less
Mark Leverenz
Andy Likes
Michael Loynd
John McClusky, Ph.D.
Marjorie McEnany
Helen McGlynn, Ph.D.
Joseph McGlynn, Jr.
Rick Meyer
John Moloney
Mary Mosqueda
Rod Nunn
Megan O’Brien
Larry Parres
Anne Geraghty-Rathert
Susan Reese
Rick Ross
John Ruhlin
Joel Sarmiento
Marie Saunders
Joyce Schaefer
Carol Sheahan
Nancy Simon
Delores Smiley
Sheridan Stiarwalt
David Stiffler
Tom Sweeney
William Tunney, Jr.
Andy Voss
John Watzke
Llynn White
Genie Wilhelm
Bob Will
Stephanie Will
Charlie Wittenberg
Jeff Wolff
Weekly seminars continue for unemployed professionals
After marking its
one-year anniversary
in early February, the
GO! Network continues
to provide free support,
comfort and advice
for 2,300 displaced
professionals in the region. With regional unemployment
rates lingering at nearly 10 percent, the value of the GO!
Network has never been more critical.
Launched by St. Patrick Center’s Celtic Creative, the
United Way and several local companies, the GO!
Network hosts free professional seminars, workshops,
speaker series and job fairs to inspire, motivate and
connect people to employment and entrepreneurial
opportunities. A variety of topics are covered, including
personal branding, networking, leveraging social media,
self assessments, financial planning, resume writing and
interviewing.
According to research conducted by Celtic Creative,
no other community in America has put together
such a diverse, comprehensive response to keep their
unemployed professionals motivated and engaged.
Celtic Creative also reports that 26% of GO! Network
members are finding jobs.
For more information about GO! Network, visit
www.gonetworkstl.com.
St. Patrick Center Mission
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency
and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming
homeless. Individuals achieve permanent, positive changes in
their lives through affordable housing, sound mental health,
employment and financial stability.
NonProfit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
St. Louis, MO
Permit No. 5501
800 North Tucker
St. Louis, MO 63101
www.stpatrickcenter.org
314.802.0700
FEDERATION MEMBER
We Are Here
May 2010 Issue
We Have Good News!
BBQ sauce company is stirring up new jobs
Craig and Toni Brown are more than just your average
married couple – they’re also business partners. When
they both found themselves out of work, the couple
decided to pursue their passion for cooking and create
their own business called Craig & Toni’s Quality
Products, which included a BBQ sauce line. However,
without the knowledge on how to launch their sauce
to the public, they were stuck at a standstill. Then,
the couple heard about the BEGIN New Venture
Center (BNVC), St. Patrick Center’s small business
incubator which provides early-stage and start-up small
businesses with the resources needed to grow. Thanks
to the BNVC, Craig and Toni received help from a
custom sauce manufacturer, who agreed to help the
couple perfect their recipe and mass produce Millie’s,
the name of their sauce. In fact, Millie’s BBQ Sauce is
scheduled to be in local grocery stores May 1! “As we
grow, we will be able to hire St. Patrick Center clients
and have them help with our distribution,” Toni states.
“Since St. Patrick Center has been such a blessing, we
want to be a blessing to other people too.”
Calendar of Events
Volunteer Opportunities
• St. Patrick’s Irish Open dinner auction:
June 5, 2010
• Volunteer Need: BEGIN New Venture Center
Mentor in Residence
• St. Patrick’s Irish Open golf tournament:
June 7, 2010
This is a perfect opportunity for someone with
executive/entrepreneurial experience to stay active
and get involved in helping build a new generation of
socially responsible business ventures! The Mentor in
Residence will coordinate and participate in the BNVC
Entrepreneurial Mentor Network, which consists of a
group of experienced business professionals who listen
and advise, provide links to resources and networking,
and act as a sounding board for ideas and concerns to
mission-sensitive start-ups.
• Cycling for Change bike ride to benefit
St. Patrick Center: July 25, 2010. For more info
about this Catholic Charities USA event, visit
www.c4cstl.org.
• Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway: August 2010
• Give Thanks Thanksgiving distribution
program: November 22 & 23, 2010
• C
hristmas Wishes family sponsorship
program: December 16 & 17, 2010
For more information about these events,
contact Katie Holcomb at 314.802.1976 or
[email protected].
For more information about these and more volunteer
opportunities, contact Kim Zamastil, Volunteer
Coordinator, at [email protected] or
314.802.0681.
Volunteer Spotlight
Not every high school freshman would take on
leadership of a fundraiser, but Taylor Mayhall is
an exceptional teenager. Now a junior at Cor Jesu,
Taylor has served a Team Captain for St. Patrick
Center’s Pot O’ Gold Kettle Drive each March
for three years. For this year’s event, she recruited
twice the volunteers in order to cover both doors
of her Schnucks store. In addition, she dressed
up as a leprechaun, complete with green, pointy
shoes, which she sold for additional POG revenue
at $20 a pair. She also organized Irish dancers and
musicians to perform at her store and worked with
the store manager to provide samples of Irish fare
and leprechaun hats for employees. With initiative
like that, it’s no surprise that each year, Taylor
has increased the amount of funds raised at her
Schnucks store and is one of our highest-grossing
team captains.