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Ruth & John Stumpf In just a few weeks, many Bay Area firms will kick off their 2008 United Way Bay Area (UWBA) workplace giving campaigns. John Stumpf, the 2008 Campaign Cabinet Chair and CEO of Wells Fargo in partnership with his wife Ruth, chose to be photographed for the current UWBA poster in the Raphael House kitchen prepping a meal for our families. This photograph shows the personal involvement and dedication that Ruth and John have to both the San Francisco community and to Raphael House.
Fr. David's Journal Stories of daily life at Raphael House
November 8, 2008 A ChildReach field trip to Studio Grow in Berkeley! A group of very active toddlers and their mothers came together for a day of tumbling, dancing, art, and interactive play at Studio Grow. This was great opportunity for mothers to watch help their toddlers explore and physically challenge themselves on the gymnastic equipment. The trip also served as a great networking opportunity for mothers with young children to share advice and learn from one another. Many of the mothers were interested in continuing with activities such as Studio Grow, which help foster a healthy development and parenting skills. Through our ChildReach program they will have an opportunity to do so! October 24, 2008 Nice letter today from a woman in Alaska who sent $200 “on behalf of my mother and I who stayed at Raphael House many years ago when I was a young girl (about 7 or 8). She said “I remember the facility and the people and the sit down meals. Thank you for bringing stability into our lives when it was temporarily absent. Thank you for the work you do and the many families whose lives you touch. Your service is never forgotten.” October 19, 2008 A very busy weekend at Raphael House we ventured over to the Chabot Science Museum. The children were able to try on space suits, look through gigantic telescopes, and learn about the make-up of each planet. On our way home young girl said "I think we should be happy to live on Earth, the other planets are either too hot or too cold." Also, on Saturday October 18th several families headed across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Discovery Museum in Marin country for the museum harvest celebration. The museum generously provided families with amazing activities including, face painting, mask decorating, and lots of FUN games. The children came home excited and the parents exhausted! Everyone agreed that it was a great day! Sunday October 19th was a Day on the Bay. Another generous donation to Raphael House by Pier 39. Twenty families gathered together for a wonderful cruise on the San Francisco Bay. For everyone this was their first time on a boat- so there was lots of excitement and some nervousness! Everyone loved touring under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. It was wonderful for children to get different view of their city and historic landmarks. After the boat trip we enjoyed ice cream on the pier. October 11, 2008 A wonderful field trip to Tennessee Valley. Two vans filled with children went on a mountain biking adventure through Tennessee Valley and had lunch at the beach. This was a great experience for all of the children. Many are accustomed to riding bikes on their concrete sidewalks, but this trip was a completely different experience. They were exposed to the elements of hills, rocks, wildlife, and peaceful surroundings. All of the children were challenged mentally and physically at different levels. One boy tried to ride up a very large hill but stopped and walked at the halfway point. When he reached the top he said “I want to try again.” And he did. He rode to the bottom of the hill and made it to the top. Another young girl was challenged by maintaining her endurance for the five mile ride, but she pushed herself and she felt like she accomplished something special when she finished the ride. All of the children want to go back- and we will! September 29, 2008 A van load of children spent the day with amazing wildlife at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek. The children were able see and touch snakes, tortoises, iguana and more. A great moment was when the children turned the corner and saw a very large mountain lion (in a glass enclosure). This was a great educational experience that the kids remained excited about the entire day. When it was time to leave none of the kids were ready to go, they simply wanted to learn more about the animals.September 15, 2008 Another great ChildReach Field trip to end the summer- a family day at Pt. Reyes beach. Four former resident families and staff spent the day at the beach playing beach kick ball, running in and out of the waves, watching a family of elk walk along the marsh, and burying one another in the sand. This was a great day for everyone. As we walked towards the beach one of the kids said "wow that sounds nice, its the ocean isn't it?" I said yes and he replied "I have not been to the beach since I was six years old" I asked him how old he was now and he answered that he would turn seventeen in a couple of months. He has lived in San Francisco since leaving Raphael House over ten years ago. The only other time he was at the ocean was when he stayed with us ! This was also his first time driving over the Golden Gate bridge. September 10, 2008 Our rock climbing trips are fabulous for the kids. Every month or so, we take a new group. On Saturday, ten girls and boys spent the afternoon on the UCSF Mission Bay rock climbing wall. This was the first time any of these kids had rock climbed. After getting the hang of it, several of the kids took turns racing one another to the top. This kind of adventure gives children the chance to challenge themselves, physically and mentally. From never having done this type of activity before to making it to the top gives the kids a great sense of accomplishment. These were all former resident children, in families with single parent mothers, now stably housed. It’s not only the children who love it. The mothers are grateful, too. September 8, 2008 Carol Field, our volunteer coordinator , took former residents a camping trip last weekend and she lived to tell us about it: Three Raphael House staff members and three AfterCare families set off for a 2-night camping trip over Labor Day weekend at Calaveras Big Trees State Park in the California Gold Country. Our twelve-person van was loaded from top to bottom and back to front with all the food and gear and it still wasn’t enough for this all-boy trip, fishing included. We walked the trail through the grove of giant sequoias and spent one afternoon at the river, where two of the boys learned how to pan for gold. They each collected a vial of black sand, which one of the seven-year-olds said he was keeping to give to his grandchildren. He also told his father that the trip was the most fun he had ever had in his life. One of the mothers heard a bear outside her tent, but how can you have a camping trip without a taste of the wild? August 19, 2008 Scores of donors contributed school supplies, new back packs and money for new school clothing and uniforms. All in all, we gave 400 children brand new backpacks this week, filed with everything they need to start the school year. August 15, 2008 A mother who stayed here several years ago came by to drop off a donation. I happened to run into her at the front desk, so we caught up on her son's acting classes. Turns out she and her son were both in Philip Glass's Appomattux which premiered here in San Francisco last October. Wow! I saw it on opening night with my son Gregory - what a performance that was! Very moving. Turns out the mother and son were part of the scene where Richmond is destroyed by the Confederates as they leave the city. A mournful, moving, heroic, tragic opera. An incredible evening. August 14, 2008 Fifteen children, mostly boys, went to see the Giants play last weekend - the first time any of them had been to the ball park. They enjoyed the game, but were astonished by the stadium itself, and the view of the Bay. August 5, 2008 Another great outing last weekend - a Tahoe trip to the mountains for ten of our most dependable, straight A afterschool children. This same group of children went on the snow trip last February, and our program director wanted them to see the same area in the summer. Last winter, one of the nine year olds had never seen snow before. The first thing she asked when they got out of the van was "can I touch it." The children were amazed how different everything looked in the summer. They stayed in a cabin, swam in a pond, and went rafting down the Truckee River. July 31, 2008 Ropes course in the hills above Lafayette: ten children between the ages of 9 and 14 spidered their way up a 30 foot pole using ropes and pulleys. What do you do at the top of a thirty foot pole? Anna Hurtado says, “some of them sat there for a while looking out at the San Francisco Bay. Some of them looked down and broke into tears.” The only way down was to jump, the ropes and pulleys anchored by staff ensured a soft landing. Everyone who cried at the top, laughed when they were back on the ground, Anna said.” This is really the kind of growth adventure we want for the children of Raphael House – something that takes them outside the city and outside themselves. In some way, they feel changed afterwards. July 30, 2008 Renovations are going on all summer long in our Children’s Program areas. Floors were re-sanded, walls are painted, and Pottery Barn Kids did a full makeover of the Children’s Garden playroom on the second floor! We are also finishing up a major waterproofing project. In addition to sealing our 100 year old concrete building, we’ve replaced major skylights and resealed the rooftops. Raphael House haS 37,000 square feet of program space, and we have most of it in good shape. Two areas still need attention, though – an elevator with a mind of its own and our large kitchen which needs thorough remodeling. If you know anyone who would like to make a major capital grant for either of these projects, let us know. We need the help. July 22, 2008 Thirty-three year old father of two dropped by to say hello. He stayed at Raphael House when he was 12, and was suprised I remembered him. "Every night I have a story time with my two children. My daughter is 13 and she is really into it. We take turns telling stories some that we have read, but we make them up, too." This fellow grew up in a chaotic home. "I want my children to feel safe and secure every night." He said everything he knows about being a parent he learned at Raphael House as a boy. July 15, 2008
July 14, 2008
July 4 2008 260 parents and children, plus another 30 staff and volunteers gathered in Golden Gate Park for our annual Fourth of July Picnic. We reserve the same spot every year in the picnic area above the children’s playground. June 17, 2008 Ralitza, our after school coordinator, is in charge of horse camp all week long at the stables near Half Moon Bay. The Square Peg foundation donates the use of the horses and their staff who supervise the children. June 16, 2008 Board approved a balanced budget for the next year. Very tight, but then again, it always is. That is life in the non-profit world, but each year we grow. June 14, 2008 Anna led an outing to the Monterey Aquarium – three van loads of former resident families. All day trip relaxing and beautiful. June 13, 2008 Second day of Summer Institute. I presented the operational principles of Raphael House, and then we took a field trip to West Oakland to see the amazing work Carol Cole, our former children’s program director, does at Sophia Project. The two Sophia Project houses provide high quality day care and After School programs. June 12, 2008 Summer Institute at Raphael House is in progress. Lynne Loar presented an in-service training on child protective services and abuse intervention and reporting. Program Director Terri DiMartini presented an overview of homelessness in America. June 10, 2008 Every week it seems Elaine and I run into a former resident from the 1980' s. Today it was the head waiter at a waterfront restaurant in Tiburon. His boy was born in 1989, a year after our own son Gregory. He still lives in South San Francisco, in the same house he lived in back then. Commutes to Tiburon. He likes people and his job. June 9, 2008 Another former resident from years gone by, her infant baby is now in college. He is there on a sports scholarship, but she is still struggling with the extra costs. Told her we can help in small ways, and we are planning an event this fall to raise money for children’s school costs of all kinds, college students too. We congratulated her on the success she has had over the years, the sole breadwinner and a single parent.
June 7, 2008 Today, we took fifty parents and children up to Mt. Tam for the annual Mountain Top Musical - This year's production was The Wizard of Oz. Great Production. Very upbeat. Beautiful views driving up and back. June 6, 2008 A new grandmother – still in her youthful middle age years –dropped off a donation for Raphael House. We recognized her right away – a stalwart volunteer from 20 years back, and a resident of Raphael House before that. 'I asked her when it was that she had stayed at Raphael House." She said“My youngest daughter was two months old at the time. She’s 28 now, so that’s it – 28 years ago!” For the past 17 years she has been working as a nurse in Seattle. Just down for a visit and thought she would drop in. June 5, 2008 Served Liturgy for the Ascension in the Raphael House chapel early this morning. There are no religious requirements on the families we serve. None of them attended the Liturgy, nor were they expected to. Some people have a hard time understanding this. If the goal is not to get people to join the Orthodox Church – which it is not - then what’s the point? The point is prayer. At the center of Raphael House, we have a core staff who pray.
June 4,2008 The Saturday Chess Club had it's school year conclusion in May, and will start up again in the fall. The ten to sixteen children who participated regularly were children who also come to Raphael House for tutoring during the week - current and former resident children. Ordering out for Pizza was a big hit as good food often adds pleasure to a celebratory event. The Chess Club was started by the Damon family with the special help of twleve year old Sloan and his Dad Allan who wanted to enrich the lives of our children using a game that has provided many memories to their family. Our thanks to the Damon family for volunteering their time! June 2, 2008 Talked to a man who stayed at Raphael House twenty years ago, he now lives in the East Bay, is 32 years old, married with three children. He said " I grew up at Raphael House." He was twelve when he and his mother stayed with us in 1988. "I think I grew up here" he told me. The family lived here for only three months, but it was a turning point for them. June 1, 2008 Raphael House families enjoyed seeing the Giants win, though one mother suddenly went into labor, and left for the hospital just in time. Mom and baby are both doing fine. May 28, 2008 Over the Memorial Day weekend, Flavia took 14 children rock climbing at Berkeley's Ironworks. This was the first time any of these children had done anything like this, and they had a blast. One of the young boys is in a wheelchair, but was able to get up and climbing because of the ropes and harnesses. The staff who supervise all this are pros, and made it one of the most thrilling adventures these children have had in years. Flavia, by the way, is our Special Events Coordinator. She was in charge of our Annual Gala One Home,Many Hearts at the Four Seasons which raised $380,000 for Raphael House. Flavia loves parties and knows how to make them fun, but the real reason we do all this is for the children and families we serve. Flavia gives a day a week to plan and do outings with children. She is a fun person. You should know her if you like galas, special events, or doing something special for families.
Executive Director, Fr. David Lowell recognized by his alma mater Birmingham Southern College
Fr. David Lowell was recently featured by his alma mater Birmingham-Southern College. As part of the honor Fr. David addressed an assembly where he was introduced by former Raphael House resident and Rhode Island School of Design Senior,S Victoria Chrichlow-Debro. Fr. David reminisced about his tenure at BSC, and the firm foundation of learning and discovery established during his academic career. See below for Fr. David’s comments and introduction by Victoria Crichlow-Debro
Victoria’s Comments Fr. David's Comments Thank you Victoria for your kind words and for being here with me tonight. It’s a pleasure to be back at Birmingham-Southern, where I was a student from 1967 to 1971. Like so many students when they are starting out, I was not sure what I would end up doing or how I would make my living. But I did have a sense that a liberal arts degree is a great foundation for life, so I picked a major that was interesting to me personally … Religion and Philosophy … with no plan in mind as to what I would do with the degree. I just knew I wanted to serve God by helping others. As it turns out, I have spent the last 23 years living in a homeless shelter which my wife and I run, and where we have raised our own two children alongside hundreds of other children every year. It has been a great deal of fun seeing very young children—like Victoria—grow into creative and thriving adults. Oddly enough, my rapid assumption of responsibilities after leaving Birmingham-Southern meant that I never received any higher degrees, even when ordained into the priesthood in the Eastern Orthodox Church, because I was constantly “in harness”, so to speak. Nevertheless, in my private time I have always kept myself active and closely linked to scholarly circles such as the Society of Biblical Literature where I frequently run into the very influential Roy Wells, my Old Testament Professor from right here at Birmingham-Southern. What my degree from Birmingham-Southern gave me was a foundation for an intellectual life that I have been building on ever since. I cannot emphasize enough how important this has been in my life. Here on this campus, I developed a love for learning and the capacity to compete with others intellectually, and to learn from them. The liberal arts foundation I received at Birmingham-Southern College gave me the confidence I needed to talk to anyone in the world on any subject. A great education doesn’t give you all the answers. It shows you how to find them. It’s misleading to talk about any institution giving an education, because so much of what we carry away with us is the time, work, and study that we put in ourselves. It is more accurate to use the old fashioned concept of earning a degree, because that is closer to the heart of the matter. But looking back I also have to say that the context in which we earn our education affects us forever. We gain confidence in how we speak when we are in the presence of other students and faculty who have the highest strivings and standards. This is why I came to Birmingham-Southern in the first place. It had the reputation of being one of the best schools in the South for combining academic excellence with intimacy and warmth. I loved the discipline of steady reading that I developed at Birmingham-Southern. I missed the intellectual disciplines and deadlines after I graduated, and I spent the next 25 years trying to get back to the same pace of reading and study as I had while I was at BSC, and that in itself is a testament to the impact of the education I received here. It became a discipline of learning which I internalized and carried forward into my life, which is exactly what a good education is supposed to do. For the past 22—now well into 23—years, I have been running San Francisco’s oldest shelter for homeless families. It is very concrete, time-consuming, and real. What makes it possible to live this kind of life is a healthy faith in God complemented by a strong intellectual life, a good sense of humor and irony, and a love of people. My young adulthood was formed in precisely that kind of milieu at Birmingham–Southern, and I am doing the best I can to live that way today. I want to thank all of you for your support of the education we are continuing to grow here at Birmingham-Southern. Thank you.
Jefferson Award WinnerCongratulations to Raphael House's own Father David Lowell, winner of the JEFFERSON AWARD. This award is administered by the American Institute for Public Service, a national foundation that honors community service. View the Video on our Jefferson Award on CBS:
Wonderful article from SF Chronicle:
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