A chance encounter unites two former WBC volunteers

Over a year ago, Father John Halligan celebrated his 80^th birthday in Milwaukee, WI.  The festivities brought together hundreds of Working Boys' Center supporters from across the country for a memory filled weekend.

However, for Matt Davis and Maggie Daly, two WBC volunteer alumni, the weekend marked the beginning of a cross-country relationship between New York City and Colorado Springs. 

Only a few of months separated Matt and Maggie's WBC volunteer experiences.  Matt, owner of Packaging Express, Inc. in Colorado Springs, volunteered at the WBC as a teacher in the elementary and technical school programs from 1998-99.  A month after Matt finished, Maggie, currently a 5^th grade teacher, began her stint teaching art and elementary education from 1999-2000.

Though they had met briefly at previous WBC functions, their reunion at Father Halligan's birthday party lit the spark in their relationship.  This past Thanksgiving weekend, Matt and Maggie were married in Colorado Springs, CO.

To honor the organization that brought them together, Matt and Maggie created an alternative wedding gift registry that benefited the WBC.  In lieu of traditional gifts, they asked friends and family to make a gift to the WBC in honor of their wedding and received a truly generous response.

If you have an upcoming birthday, anniversary or special occasion and are interested in creating a special gift registry to celebrate your special day, please contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or send her an email.

Teaching the Teachers

For three retired school teachers, the end of this summer did not mark the traditional return to the classroom in the United States.  Instead, they made a several thousand mile journey to Quito, Ecuador to share their decades of teaching experience with new volunteers at the Working Boys' Center.

John and Corry Cochol offered a teaching training workshop to new volunteers who are serving as instructors in the elementary, technical and adult education programs this year.  Most volunteers do not have teaching degrees and value the on-the-job training that the Cochol's provided.

The idea for the workshop came during a visit to the Working Boys' Center with their daughter, Jessica, who served as a two-year WBC volunteer.  During their visits and conversations with Jessica and other volunteers, they were made aware that there was a need for the volunteers, who are not teacher trained, to have some type of in depth teacher orientation before they begin their work at the WBC.  

During their last visit with Jessica in January 2011, they observed classrooms and provided feedback to volunteers seeking their help.  It was during that visit that the Cochol's felt called to volunteer their service and expertise.  Recently retired in August of 2010, plans were made to return at the end of August to provide training during the volunteer orientation and classroom feedback for the first month that the volunteers are teaching.

"We feel that the Lord has called us to WBC through Jessica and the team there," said the Cochol's.  "It is a way we can give back all the Lord has done for our family and the blessings Jessica received while volunteering at WBC."

The training introduced basic principles and effective practices of teaching.  The Cochol's taught classroom management strategies and teaching techniques during two half-day and two full-day sessions. They also focused on how to teach English as a second language using a program that was purchased for the WBC a few years ago.

The last four weeks have been spent in the classrooms to problem solve beginning of school issues and helping the volunteers get their classes off to a good start.

"It seems to be going well," said John.  "This is a great group of volunteers all bright, eager and quick learners."

Corry has taught Kindergarten through the community college level over the course of her 36-year teaching career with the last 20 years in the Canandaigua City School District in New York.  She is a Reading Specialist and a teacher trainer.

John worked for the Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES in New York State for 34 years as a teacher for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and a Special Education Principal for the last 26 years.

John and Corry are joined in service with Doug Cramer who has written a complete physical education course for the volunteer teachers and is at the Working Boys' Center this September to implement the new curriculum.

A Marriage Built On Service To Others

When he first saw her curly red hair from the back of church, he knew she was the one for him. 

50 years later, Jim and Pat Parks have 10 children and have logged hundreds of thousands of hours raising funds and friends for the Working Boys' Center (WBC.)  Pat is the sister of WBC co-founder, Sister Miguel Conway BVM, and is President of Family Unity International, the U.S. fundraising arm for the Working Boys' Center.

This July, Jim and Pat celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with family and friends in Milwaukee, WI.  In lieu of gifts, Jim and Pat asked guests to make a contribution to the Working Boys' Center.  Much to their delight, their friends and family raised over $40,000 in support of the Ecuadorian mission.

If you are interested in learning more about creating a gift registry for a birthday, anniversary or special occasion that benefits the Working Boys' Center, let us help you celebrate your special day and help the Working Boys' Center.  For more information on how to set up a gift registry, please contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or send her an email.

Twin Cities Young Professionals Organize Benefit Concert

Over 200 people attended a benefit concert for the Working Boys' Center in Minneapolis, MN this past May.  The concert featuring the well-known local bluegrass band, the Pistol Whippin Party Penguins, raised several thousand dollars for the WBC.

The concert was organized by many WBC volunteer alumni including planning committee members Keely Schallock, Annie Ittner, Aaron Hendrickson, Dan Philp, Abby Olson, and Katrina Kramer.  Band members Ryan Schallock, Jake Manders, Matt Walvatne, Chris Pyle, and Pat Mavity donated their talents to the evening and ticket and t-shirt sales raised valuable funds for the WBC.

These young professionals are continuing their fundraising efforts this fall was another concert on Friday, September 30, 2011 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN.  The event will feature music from Three Drink Minimum.  View more details on the next Minnesota Music for the Mission concert.

Art Show benefits the WBC

St. Gabriel's Little Angels Preschool in McKinney, TX hosted its annual art show to benefit the Working Boys' Center.  The event, held in conjunction with the Week of the Young Child, raised over $1,100 for the WBC.

The preschool teachers saved three pieces of each child's artwork made during the school year and they displayed the art by class in the cafeteria.  Parents were invited to the annual art show and purchased their child's masterpieces for a donation to the WBC. 

Little Angels Preschool Director, Debbie Santowski, displays items from her trip to the Working Boys' Center and plays Ecuadorian music to put everyone in the mood.  In addition to educational programming on the WBC and missionary work, the preschool holds numerous fundraisers for the WBC each year including a classroom circus, coin collection drive, pizza and ice cream social night and special lunch day to name a few.

View photos of the art show.

If you are a teacher, parent or student and would like to learn more about how a school or classroom can help the Working Boys' Center, please contact Jane Pruhs at jane.pruhs@workingboyscenter.org or 414-248-6171.

Sesame Street arrives at the Working Boys' Center

In February the Working Boys' Center received a donation of educational materials from the "Sesame Workshop," the creative force behind Sesame Street as well as a number of other educational shows and resources. Michael Lopez, uncle of current volunteer, Liam Carney, and Executive Director of the "National Center for Latino Child & Family Research," arranged the donation. As a part of his work, Mr. Lopez frequently serves on Advisory Committees for the "Sesame Workshop," particularly with regard to the increasing development of Spanish-language and Latino targeted materials.

Due to his recent involvement in a Sesame project and having learned about his nephew's current experience at the Working Boys' Center, Mr. Lopez was able and eager to coordinate the gift. The donation of about 50 pounds of workbooks and other useful materials were consequently lugged down from New York by Liam's parents when they visited him and the center over President's week. The donated resources will be swiftly put to use.

Two Canadian Rotary Clubs Show Support

Representatives from the Petawawa and Pembroke Rotary Clubs, Norm and Kay Edwards, recently visited the Working Boys' Center and presented an $8,000 check from the clubs. 

While visiting the WBC with their granddaughter Meghan and her friend, the Edwards helped around the Center organizing the library, painting the education office, inventorying supplies, and filling shampoo bottles for the shower program. 

More importantly, Norm shared his butter tart recipe with the bakery and they are now selling this famous Canadian national dessert to clients.

Marking 50th Wedding Anniversary

By remembering those in need

George and Sunny Golder's first encounter with the Working Boys' Center was on an organized tour of Ecuador in 2002.  They were on their way to visit the Middle of the World monument when their tour bus stopped for lunch at the WBC's restaurant, Mi Olla Quitena.  

What was supposed to be a 45 minute tour of the WBC facilities turned into a three hour experience that they will never forget.

They were so impressed by the students and the program philosophy.  "I am a retired certified public accountant, so I was impressed by the low administrative overhead," said George.  "We came away very impressed."

When it came time to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, instead of an elaborate party, they opted to support 10 organizations that touched their heart throughout their marriage.  The Working Boys' Center was one of those beneficiaries.

The Colorado couple have four children and 13 grandchildren and have been supporters of the Working Boys' Center since their first visit nearly 10 years ago.

To learn more about alternative ways to help the Working Boys' Center, contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or by email.

The Power of a 5-year-old

When five-year-old Sophia Parks began kindergarten this year at St. Mary's Visitation School in Elm Grove, WI, she had big plans.  She wanted to master her alphabet, meet some new friends, and raise awareness of her mother's home country of Ecuador.

This Christmas Sophia engaged the support of her fellow kindergarden classmates by speaking about Ecuador and the Working Boys' Center.  So inspired by the work, her class decided to collect coins this Christmas to support the WBC.  They raised over $600 dollars for the preschool students at the WBC.

Sophia recently visited the Working Boys' Center and played with some of the students who benefitted from her and her classmates efforts.  

To learn more about how your school or class could help support the Working Boys' Center, contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or by email.
 

Ugly Sweaters Raise Funds for the WBC

Question:  What do you get when you ask your friends to wear the ugliest Christmas sweater they can find and gather together?  Answer:  Over $800 raised for the Working Boys' Center.

This past December, former WBC volunteer James Hirsch and friends hosted an annual pub crawl in New York City to raise funds for Christmas gifts for students at the Working Boys' Center.  Participants displayed their holiday sweaters as they worked their way around various restaurants and bars throughout Manhattan.  This event raises awareness and funds for the WBC mission among younger donors and has become an annual holiday tradition in the Big Apple.

Students Making a Change

At St. John Vianney School in Brookfield, Wisconsin, it is a tradition during Advent for students to do service projects that help the less fortunate. This year, first graders and fifth graders participated in a new program called "CHANGE" for the Working Boys' Center Christmas.  Students were asked to do extra chores at home and find other ways to acquire spare change and donate it to the program.

"CHANGE" for the Working Boys' Center Christmas raises money for the special Christmas celebration at the Center.  As many know, on Christmas day the Center families gather for a celebration of Jesus' birth as well as the First Communion for those children who have prepared for it.  A special chicken dinner is served to all 400 families.  The special day costs approximately $5,000.  The St. John Vianney students donated $723.55 during Advent to help with the cost.  A family at St. John Vianney chose to match the student's donations, so a total of $1447.10 was presented to the WBC from the school.

First graders in Mrs. Albrigh's and Mrs. William's classes also made Christmas cards for the children at the WBC.  A friend of a first grader who recently visited the WBC brought back knitted finger puppets for the SJV students.  The kids were thrilled to receive something from Quito!

First grade teacher Mrs. Williams was so pleased with this new Advent project, she has already committed to her class next year participating.

To learn more about ways your school or parish can help the Working Boys' Center, contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or by email.

Former WBC volunteer host annual bowling tournament

For the past seven years, several former Working Boys' Center volunteers have recruited friends and family to a bowling tournament to raise funds for the Center.  This annual Denver tradition, named the Turkey Bowl, takes place the day before Thanksgiving and has nearly 100 participants.

The tournament was the brainchild of former volunteers and is organized by Chrissey Buckley, Tom Davis, Matt Davis and Mark Michalek and his wife, Kate.

This family friendly event has grown through the years and this year the tournament raised over $10,000 through donations, a silent auction and tournament registrations.

To learn more about organizing a special event like the Turkey Bowl, contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or by email.

Not Your Mother's Wedding Registry

In lieu of presents, couple directs wedding gifts to the Working Boys' Center

When former Working Boys' Center volunteer, Maggie Lockner, and her fiancé, Matt Franke, were planning their wedding, they wanted it to reflect their combined passion of service to others.

So when they looked at wedding registries, it was only natural to encourage their friends and families to make a donation in their honor to two Jesuit organizations close to their hearts.

Both Maggie and Matt spent a year volunteering after college. Maggie, a University of Minnesota graduate, was a WBC volunteer who worked in the bakery and Girls' program from 2002-2003. Matt served at Cristo Rey in Chicago as a Jesuit Alumni Volunteer. Both the WBC and Cristo Rey benefited from Maggie and Matt's alternative wedding registry.

"The impact of the Working Boys' Center experience grows overtime," said Maggie. "My experience with Madre Miguel, Padre Juan and the families has kept me grounded and focused on the life Matt and I want to live. "

Over 50 of their wedding guests participated in the alternative wedding registry by donating to the Working Boys' Center and Cristo Rey.

According to the couple, the traditional wedding presents aren't missed. "The gifts (to the WBC) are all the more meaningful because it is about sharing your life with others," commented Maggie.

Currently, the couple resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Matt, a Foreign Service Officer, will leave in January for a year assignment in Iraq. Maggie will continue working as a lawyer and join him on his next placement, most likely in South America.

To learn more about alternative ways to help the Working Boys' Center, contact Jane Pruhs at 414-248-6171 or use the contact form to send an email.