Fall the hawk - hanna boys center
- 1. FATHER GREG JOINS HANNA THE HAWKTURNING HURT INTO HOPE FALL 2017 Hanna Boys Center recently welcomed Father Gregory McGivern as its new resident chaplain. We sat down to hear about his background, experience and role as a spiritual leader to Hanna’s boys and staff. How long have you been a priest, and where have you served? McGivern: I was born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, where I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Dromore on June 16, 1985. I earned master’s degrees in both theology and counseling psychology. I have worked in different parishes in the Diocese of San Jose and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. My last appointment was Mercy High School, where I served for the last 11 years. My areas of responsibility included school chaplain and counselor, as well as head of the counseling department. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of California, a certified spiritual director and a pastoral counselor with a special interest in the intersection of psychology and spirituality and their important roles in mental well-being and recovery. I also worked with victims of violence during the Troubles in Northern Ireland through pastoral outreach and care. What excites you about the opportunity at Hanna? McGivern: I am very excited to join a community of people who value and celebrate faith, education and care as the core values in their support of Hanna boys. This respect and dignity for the boys at Hanna were very much in evidence during my early visits to campus. I was moved and impressed by the love, care and commitment by all the staff in their outreach and support of these young men. The caliber, determination and resilience of the young men with whom I had the opportunity to interact was likewise truly inspirational in their quest to turn their lives around and plan for a better future. I have tremendous gratitude, as well as excitement, to be part of a professional, supportive and caring community where “Turning Hurt to Hope” are not just words, but a living reality. Continued on back coverContinued on inside FROM THE DESK OF OUR CEO, BRIAN Faith. Education. Caring. These three pillars have been the hallmarks of the “Hanna Way” for seven decades, and they continue to underpin and direct our work today. But many people wonder specifically how they fit together to help boys turn their lives around. Let me share a few insights on just how this works. First, faith. Hanna was founded in 1945 by two priests, under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, and its entire culture is built on strong Christian values. Yet today our boys come from a variety of faith traditions (only about a third come from Catholic households) or none at all. Our goal is to instill in our boys a useful spirituality—a practical sense of faith, identity and community that will serve and guide them. One they can use today, but also one they can build upon as they mature. Second, education. Because of what has happened to them before coming to Hanna, most of our boys arrive with unfavorable academic experiences. Many have either failed in or been kicked out of school, often multiple times. But Archbishop Hanna High School is different. Our teachers are specially trained to work with kids from these backgrounds.
- 2. “From the day I met him and he took me in as my guardian back when I was 14,” says Tallis, “he always said his legacy would go to boys who didn’t have homes or who needed care. A place like Hanna. A place where kids could learn real-life skills like carpentry—a vocation Jay dedicated his life’s work to.” It’s no wonder Smith chose to leave his legacy to Hanna. Orphaned in the 1930s, he found himself alone on the streets of San Francisco by age 13. While not an original Hanna Boy, he squarely fits the typical profile. By sheer determination and grit, Smith made his own way through life and ended up joining the Navy in 1944, just in time for the Second World War. After the war, Smith moved to San Diego, where he became a carpentry apprentice and eventually opened his own business, the S.B. Mill & Carpentry Shop. His life was filled with a love of the sea and woodworking. He soon purchased a schooner and left his carpentry shop often to set sail for Mexico or the coast of Canada. Somewhat reclusive, Smith amassed a small fortune through hard work, prudent spending, smart real estate investments and keen business acumen. A lover of the classics, Smith is remembered by his friends fondly for his recitation of Charles Edward Carryl’s 86-line poem, “Robinson Crusoe’s Story.” “Jay always told me, ‘A promise made is a debt unpaid.’ It meant that you honor your commitments,” says Tallis. “When boys enroll at Hanna Boys Center, they write a letter committing to being there and working out their challenges, and that’s what Jay believed in—honoring your commitments.” Legacy gifts like Smith’s are critical to the continued success of Hanna. They ensure that Hanna will be able to help struggling young people for years to come. We are greatly honored to learn of the generous support of Legacy donors like Smith. The gift of his estate will make a difference in the lives of many young men in the future. ■ DONOR PROFILE: SPENCER “JAY” SMITH, 95 YEARS OF A LIFE WELL LIVED “He never let the truth get in the way of a good story,” recalls Matt Tallis about his lifelong compatriot, friend and mentor, Spencer “Jay” Smith, who recently passed away and left the bulk of his estate to Hanna Boys Center. To learn more about ways to give to Hanna’s Legacy Society, please contact Beth Fox at 707.933.2588 or [email protected]. Our classes are small—usually 8-10 students—so boys get the individualized attention they need. And the results bear this out: Most of our boys see a dramatic improvement in their grades after coming to Hanna and—maybe more remarkably—tell us they actually enjoy learning, sometimes for the first time in their life. And finally, caring. This is perhaps the single most important ingredient in Hanna’s secret sauce. What differentiates many of our boys from their peers is the environment in which they grew up, which typically includes high levels of adversity or trauma. This affects how their young brains develop and, subsequently, how they relate to the world around them. But at Hanna, we turn this equation around. We create an environment that is consistent, caring and safe and that allows our youth to be protected and nourished. This helps them rebuild their psyches and begin to effectively build relationships and turns their hurt into hope. Faith. Education. Caring. We call it the “Hanna Way.” But really it’s a proven and effective model for anyone’s life plan, isn’t it? I hope you enjoy catching up on what’s new at Hanna in the rest of this newsletter. In the meantime, thank you for all you do for Hanna—we are truly grateful. God bless you. Brian Farragher CEO, Hanna Boys Center Continued from front page HOW YOU CAN HELP FROM THE DESK OF OUR CEO, BRIAN
- 3. Equity, criminal justice and overcoming adversity were just a few of the themes surfaced by the Honorable Troy L. Nunley of the Eastern District of California at Hanna Institute’s Professional Breakfast Series. Attorneys, prosecutors, judges, educators and child care professionals gathered to participate in the lively discussion. Judge Nunley shared his views as a staunch advocate for children—especially the most vulnerable—as well as his rich personal experience from his judicial role. He also shared insights about his personal upbringing, growing up with a single mother in the Hunter’s Point neighborhood of San Francisco. Ultimately, Judge Nunley rose to one of the highest positions in American law. “Providing a platform for the community to network and discuss key social issues is a critical role for the Hanna Institute,” says Mary Kelly Persyn, director of the Hanna Institute. Along with other professionals—from the courts, health systems, schools, churches, community organizations and more—we can improve the outcomes for young people who have faced early adversity. We are honored to provide this kind of value to our neighbors and partners.” At Hanna’s next 2017 Professional Network Breakfast Series on December 14, we will discuss diversity in technology and digital media with Villy Wang, CEO and founder of BAYCAT in San Francisco. Hanna Institute’s mission is to build resilience through trauma-informed practices utilizing a wide range of activities, collaborating with other youth- serving organizations through community forums, in-depth training and on-site support services. ■ HANNA INSTITUTE: DEDICATED TO BUILDING COMMUNITY WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL BREAKFAST SERIES At Hanna Institute’s latest event, Judge Troy L. Nunley, from his unique vantage point in one of America’s highest courts, highlighted issues he’s seen first-hand about the role childhood adversity and trauma plays in the incarceration and treatment of juvenile and young adult offenders. BACK TO SCHOOL
- 4. What is your understanding of the mission of Hanna, and how do you plan to contribute as a priest? McGivern: The mission is rooted in the gospel values of the Catholic tradition in which the dignity and respect of each young man is affirmed and cherished. The Hanna community celebrates the unique and diverse gifts of each of these young men who come to us both from Catholic traditions and other rich and diverse spiritual backgrounds. With faith, education and care, the well-being of each of these young men is nurtured and cultivated. As Hanna’s resident chaplain, I hope to contribute through a ministry of presence, compassion, pastoral care, support and—perhaps most important—listening. I know there are many programs in place in terms of care and support, and I am looking forward to learning more about these. By building on these existing programs, in collaboration with others, I will utilize my pastoral and counseling experience. An important part of my outreach is to get to know the boys personally, encourage them to become their very best and acknowledge and affirm their unique gifts and talents. I want to listen and understand their stories, hopes, dreams and find out what speaks to them in terms of meaningful spiritual care and support. ■ Continued from front page CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 13, 2017 25th Annual Golf Classic Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa NOVEMBER 9, 2017 A Giant Day for Hanna 5:00 p.m. Momo’s San Francisco NOVEMBER 17, 2017 MC Yogi: Book Signing & Concert 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hanna Boys Center Auditorium For more information or to register for any event, visit us at www.hannacenter.org. FIND US ON “I have tremendous gratitude, as well as excitement, to be part of a professional, supportive and caring community where “Turning Hurt to Hope” are not just words, but a living reality. Are you a former Hanna boy, a donor, a former Board member, a Hanna friend? Please share your story about why you care about Hanna. We would love to have your tribute. Go to www.hannacenter.org/ story and send us a few words or a story, a photo or a video. Thank you for caring and sharing with us. Go to www.hannacenter.org/story. 17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476 HELP HANNA: share your STORY