St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children

Auction and Raffle to Benefit Children of St. Mary's Home

2012-02-07T17:04:00.001-05:00

CONTACT: Sonja Barisic

office 757.352.2700

mobile 757.412.7071

email sbarisic@smhdc.org

MEDIA ALERT

Feb.7, 2012

AUCTIONAND RAFFLE TO BENEFIT

CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS OF ST. MARY’S HOME

WHAT TheAuxiliary Board of St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children will hold its 7^thAnnual Gala and Auction, presented by Checkered Flag Volkswagen. Event includesa three-course dinner, live music by The Josh Walker Trio and silent and liveauctions, including the opportunity to help the residents of St. Mary’s go onmore field trips into the community. The festivities also will feature a rafflefor the all-new 2012 VW Beetle, courtesy of Checkered Flag.

WHEN Saturday, Feb. 25, preview/silent auction at 6 p.m.,dinner at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE WestinHotel – Town Center, 4535 Commerce St., Virginia Beach, VA 23462

WHO WVEC-TV personality Craig Moellerwill serve as emcee for the evening.

COST Auction: $100 per person, or $950 perprivate table for 10; raffle: $50 per ticket.

WHY Proceeds will benefit the children and youngadults who live at St. Mary’s Home.

CONTACT Formore information about the auction, contact Auxiliary President Karen Hibbard at(757) 352-2705 or klhibb@cox.net. Auctionand raffle tickets also can be purchased online at www.saintmaryshome.org.

Formore information about SMHDC, contact Sonja Barisic, marketing communicationsmanager, at (757) 352-2700 or sbarisic@smhdc.org,or visit www.saintmaryshome.org.

St. Mary's Opened to the Public 67 Years Ago Today

2011-12-08T14:51:00.001-05:00

Concerned about the growing number of abandoned and orphaned children in Norfolk during World War II, the Rev. Paul V. Heller had an idea: Create a home for them.

A century-old downtown building that once had been a school was renovated and opened its doors as St. Mary's Infant Home with a public ceremony on Dec. 8, 1944. The first dozen children arrived at the Home two weeks later.

St. Mary's evolved over the years and today, St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children cares for Virginia children and young adults, up to age 21, who have severe intellectual and physical disabilities.

We're also building a wing with 12 private rooms so that in about a year, we can offer care to adults 22 and over. Supporters have contributed $2.6 million of the $3 million needed to build The Albero House for adults. The goal is to end the Embrace capital campaign by Dec. 31, 2011. If you would like to be a part of this important mission, you can donate now on our website. Or, contact Allison Bough, campaign coordinator, at (757) 622-2208 or abough@smhdc.org.

For information about how St. Mary's Home could help your family, contact Melanie Perez-Lopez, director of social work, at (757) 622-2208 ext. 321 or mperezlopez@smhdc.org.

Garden Club Transforms Courtyard at St. Mary's Home

2011-11-16T15:49:00.001-05:00

Nathaniel G. and Koko, who live at St. Mary's Home, showed off the transformed courtyard near St. Mary's entrance to Garden Club of Virginia President Kim Nash (standing, in red) and members of Norfolk's Harborfront Garden Club. Also joining the group were Suzanne Eason, St. Mary's supervisor of occupational therapy support services, standing at far left, and Ron Herrick, who leads St. Mary's environmental services department, which has worked on the courtyard along with garden club members.

KimNash, president of the Garden Club of Virginia, visited St. Mary’s Home today to see how Norfolk’s award-winning HarborfrontGarden Club has transformed a courtyard for the children and young adults toenjoy.

Nash toured the Home and the courtyard and met with some of the children -- Koko and Nathaniel G. -- and staff. A $10,500 grant from the Garden Club of Virginiarecently enabled the Harborfront Garden Club to complete the courtyard afterseveral years of work.

"I was blown away by it," Nash said after seeing the courtyard in person for the first time. "You could see Nate and Koko -- they brightened when they went out there."

Thecourtyard, near St. Mary’s main entrance, had been mostly filled with grass. In2007, the Harborfront Garden Club began working with Girl Scout Troop 5067 toturn the courtyard into a Butterfly and Sensory Garden.

Gardenclub members planted plants and bulbs they dug up from their own gardens, aswell as plants donated by a nursery and $500 in plants the club won in anational website contest. They also raised funds for the project by selling a cookbook.

Asthe plants flourished, the club funded the installation of a major feature inthe courtyard: a 500-gallon fish pond, which members of St. Mary’s environmentalservices department built in 2009.

Thecourtyard is surrounded by large windows, so the children, their families,visitors and staff can enjoy views of the garden from inside. Going into thegarden, though, wasn’t that easy for the children and young adults, who usewheelchairs.

Then,last year, the Harborfront Garden Club won the Common Wealth Award, which providesgrants to community projects of the Garden Club of Virginia’s member clubs. Thelocal club used the $10,500 stipend to buy more plants and to install paved,wheelchair-accessible pathways this summer.

"Winning the award has helped us toessentially complete this project," said Betsy Murphy, president of theHarborfront Garden Club. "It got the children outside, which was the wholepoint – to have them enjoy a sensory, healing garden."

To see more photos of the courtyard, including views from the rooftop, see St. Mary's Facebook page.

All in the Family: St. Mary's Board President is Latest Member of Family to Serve

2011-11-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

Vincent A. Napolitano

Vincent A. Napolitano, president of the Napolitano Homes homebuilding company in Virginia Beach, is serving a two-year term as president of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, following a long tradition of service to St. Mary’s in his family.

Napolitano, who had been vice president of the Board, succeeded Richard N. Knapp, who remains on the Board as immediate past president. Knapp, the retired chief operating officer for Virginia International Terminals, Inc., also is chairman of the “Embrace” capital campaign that is raising $6 million to build an expansion that will enable St. Mary’s Home to care for 12 adults and increase an endowment fund for future needs.

Thomas W. Godfrey Jr., president and CEO of Colonna’s Shipyard Inc. in Norfolk, succeeded Napolitano as vice president of St. Mary’s Board. George L. Consolvo, a partner with the law firm of Kaufman & Canoles P.C., continues as treasurer.

The Board also elected three new trustees: Sharon S. Goodwyn, attorney with Hunton & Williams, LLP; Judi E. Luffman, past executive director of The Southeast Virginia Community Foundation; and Nancy Wilcox, national sales trainer with NYR Organic and a longtime member of St. Mary’s Auxiliary Board who now also serves as secretary of St. Mary’s Board of Trustees.

Napolitano is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a senior life director for the National Association of Homebuilders. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Eastern Virginia Medical School, where he served as rector for two years.

His father, Frederick J. Napolitano, Sr., served on St. Mary’s Board for more than 40 years and now is an honorary trustee. His mother, Jackie Napolitano, volunteered at the Home and is a member of St. Mary’s Auxiliary Board, along with his wife, Shelia Napolitano.

The following members continue to serve on St. Mary’s Board:

Carl M. Albero, Colonna’s Shipyard
Michael P. Cotter, trustee, U. S. Bankruptcy Court
Michael E. Duffy, Merrill Lynch
H. Gregory Kilduff, retired
Donald F. Price, Monarch Bank
William J. Ripley, retired
Alvin J. Schexnider, Ph.D., Schexnider & Associates, LLC
Norma J. Taliaferro, retired educator and Realtor, Kline Realty
Karen L. Hibbard, as president of the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary’s Home

About St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children

The private, nonprofit St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children provides comprehensive long- and short-term residential care for Virginia children and young adults, ages newborn to 21, who have severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Children come to St. Mary’s as a result of birth disorders, traumatic accidents, illness and injuries from abuse.

Nurse Helps Children, and Her Country, Too

2011-09-26T13:49:00.000-04:00

St. Mary's Home is proud to be among the organizations featured in the 2011 Combined Federal Campaign Book, which you can see online here. Below is an article, submitted by St. Mary's, that was included in the campaign book, which is distributed on area military bases.

Tara Dean, a primary nurse at St. Mary's Home, with Kishaun.

By Sonja Barisic, St. Mary's marketing communications manager

WhileIraq conducted national elections in March 2010, Sgt. Tara Dean providedmedical care for Iraqi police officers and soldiers and even their families asshe worked out of a police station that week. She also treated a police officerwho had been wounded by a sniper.

ForDean, a 37-year-old medic in the Virginia Army National Guard, helping peopleis all in the line of duty.

Helpingpeople also is her main mission in her civilian job. She’s a primary nurse atthe nonprofit St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, where young people fromacross Virginia who have severe intellectual and physical disabilities live, play andgo to school. Staff like Dean provide comprehensive, around-the-clockcare for as many as 92 children and young adults ages newborn to 21 years. Nextyear, St. Mary’s plans to expand care to adults, including the Home’sgraduates, by opening a wing with 12 private rooms.

Whenit comes to the military, St. Mary’s Home has a long tradition of servingfamilies through the U.S. Armed Forces Exceptional Family Member Program, whilemilitary members like Dean strengthen the staff. Service members also volunteerto do projects at the Home and for special events, like St. Mary’s annual 5Kfundraiser, this year on Oct. 1 in Norfolk’s East Beach neighborhood.

Dean decided to go into nursing,just as her grandmother did, to “help people when they really need compassion,when they really need somebody there.” A licensed practical nurse, Dean isstudying to become a registered nurse.

Deanespecially likes caring for children and said she finds it uplifting to workwith the children at St. Mary’s Home. “I knew that they have special needs,”she said. “They have their own special place in life, too.”

Dean’sdesire to help also led her to join the National Guard to support her country.She deployed in 2009 with the Virginia Beach-based 229^th MilitaryPolice Company. She spent much of the 13-month tour on federal active duty inIraq, completing more than 40 missions as a field medic.

Whilein Iraq, Dean cared for a stray five-week-old kitten whose mother had died. Shehad cans of tuna shipped to her from back home so she could feed the kitten.Slowly, the wild kitten she named Freedom began to let her pet him and she knewshe couldn’t leave him there. SPCA International helped Dean get the kitten toher home in Chesapeake. “The cat made it home before I did.”

Dean’sdesire to help others continues when she’s off-duty as well. She’s becomeparticularly close to Kishaun, one young resident of St. Mary’s. She takes himon field trips, most recently to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and she broughthim to her home to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family.

Deannow is assigned to the Medical Command at Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Va. Shetravels there one weekend a month and two weeks a year. She said her trainingand experience in the military has made her a better nurse. “It makes youappreciate the little things the kids can do so much more,” she said. “SinceI’ve come back, every little thing that they can do, it will bring tears to myeyes.”

St.Mary’s Home for Disabled Children

CFC# 10064

Brandon and Carrington's Weekend Adventure

2011-05-24T12:06:00.000-04:00

Brandon and Carrington, two children from St. Mary's Home, joined Team Hoyt VB for a trip this past weekend to Holland, Mass., where father-and-son athlete team Dick and Rick Hoyt live.

The group of 96 athletes, participants, family and friends traveled from Hampton Roads by plane, car and RV and enjoyed a cookout on Saturday at the Hoyts' home – complete with rides for everyone who wanted to go on Dick Hoyt’s boat for a spin around the lake. They also ran the Holland Elementary School 5K on Sunday morning and celebrated afterward at Team Hoyt’s Finish Line restaurant.

Team Hoyt VB is a local offshoot of Team Hoyt, which strives to help people with physical disabilities become active members of the community. Dick Hoyt and his son compete together in marathons and triathlons nationwide. Members of Team Hoyt VB have pushed children and young adults in St. Mary's annual 5K, among other races.

Check out St. Mary's Facebook page for more photos from the weekend trip.

Nurses Week: Meet Jennifer Stephens

2011-05-13T13:28:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Stephens. (Photo courtesy Lori Dill.)

Jennifer Stephens cried the first time she came to St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children, for a clinical placement while she was studying to become a licensed practical nurse. She thought it would be too heartbreaking to be around children and young adults with severe disabilities. “I saw everything that was ‘wrong’ with the children, and what the children couldn’t do,” she said. “After I worked here, all I saw was what they CAN do.”

She ended up enjoying the experience so much that she went to work at St. Mary’s Home four years ago after she finished nursing school at Sentara Obici Hospital. Stephens, 28, commutes from Como, N.C., a drive that takes 70 minutes one way.

Stephens’ commitment to children with disabilities began in high school. She was so inspired by the boy she teamed up with when she volunteered for the Special Olympics that she decided to study special education. After one semester in college, though, she realized she wasn’t meant to be a teacher and switched to nursing, initially studying to become a certified nurse aide, while she worked fulltime as an assistant manager at a grocery store.

Her colleagues describe Stephens as a “very cool LPN” and a “sweet soul” who’s always looking for ways to help the children and to help other staff with their work. She’s dependable, quick-thinking, conscientious, passionate, easygoing and joyful. When told of this praise, she modestly said that she's just doing her job and that it’s a privilege to work with the children at St. Mary’s.

But, like many at St. Mary’s, she does more than her job. One little girl she knows particularly well because they both arrived at St. Mary’s around the same time. She’s bought clothes and other items for Jenny, and, with the permission of the girl’s family, she occasionally takes Jenny home to visit with Stephens’ family.

National Nurses Week: Meet CNA Gwen Dickens

2011-05-09T14:14:00.000-04:00

To celebrate National Nurses Week, we're highlighting several members of the nursing department at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, as voted on by their colleagues. Today, meet Gwen Dickens, a certified nurse aide:

Hamda and Gwen Dickens. Photo by Re:Act Media.

Gwen Dickens started working at St. Mary's Home about 36 years ago, following in her sister’s footsteps. Her colleagues say Dickens, who has studied early childhood development, is a great team leader who loves children and has a sweet nature that brightens everyone’s day – and that she often goes beyond the call of duty.

After working mostly night shifts, Dickens switched to the 7 a.m.-3 p.m. shift about three years ago. That’s when she was assigned to Hamda's room. Hamda didn’t smile much, and Dickens made it her mission, in addition to her regular duties, to make Hamda happy.

The two have grown extremely close as they've established a daily routine centered around talks, walks throughout St. Mary's 88,000-square-foot building and story time, with Dickens reading books that Hamda chooses. Hamda now smiles a lot as a way to express herself, especially when Dickens is around. Dickens also is Hamda's constant companion during field trips into the community, such as excursions to the library or shops.

"This is a special place and when you see a child's accomplishment, it does your heart good to know that you have contributed in some small way to foster that accomplishment," said Dickens, 55, of Norfolk.

Photo by Re:Act Media.

Congratulations, St. Mary's Class of 2011

2011-05-06T16:04:00.000-04:00

Principal Terry Lyle presents Josh with his diploma during the commencement ceremony in St. Mary's Atrium.

Friday was a day to celebrate Josh and Maurice, two young men who live at St. Mary's Home, and to reflect on how far they have come as they prepare for their future.

"For most of us, living is relatively easy. We get up in the morning and get dressed and drive to work," special educator Judith Green said during her keynote speech at the graduation ceremony for St. Mary's Class of 2011.

"For Maurice and Joshua, it is not easy," said Green, director of Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, or SECEP. "They have struggled to live, they have to depend on others, and they have fought hard to get where they are today."

Every child and young adult at St. Mary's attends classes, either at the Home through a partnership with SECEP or at Norfolk and Virginia Beach public schools. Graduation signals the end of formal education for young people who are 21 or will turn 21 in the next year. Currently, young adults must find other living arrangements, such as group homes, before they turn 22, although St. Mary's is planning to open an adult wing in 2012.

Families, guardians, staff, friends and other residents gathered in the Atrium for this year's ceremony, which began with four of the younger children presenting colors and also included a video tribute featuring photos of the two graduates through the years.

The caregivers and teachers who knew the graduates the best shared a bit about them. "You haven't really experienced St. Mary's until you've met Maurice," who loves to sing and dance, said teacher Kimberley Curll; as if to prove her point, he smiled and vocalized and gestured exuberantly through much of the ceremony.

Nancy Bryan gave the family tribute. She said her son Josh has been a blessing and has taught her to "learn to appreciate the small victories." She also thanked the staff at St. Mary's Home for taking good care of him.

Before the keynote speech, St. Mary's CEO William C. Giermak noted that Green is retiring this year and said the Home was honored to have one of her last official acts be to speak at commencement.

Earlier Friday, the teaching staff presented Terry Lyle with a paver in her honor to celebrate her 10th anniversary as principal of SECEP REACH (Raising Expectations and Abilities for Children with Complex Health Needs). The paver has been placed along the walkway at St. Mary's entrance.

Fifth Fridays Lecture Series to Return to St. Mary's Home

2011-04-14T14:11:00.000-04:00

Dr. Joseph Toland, medical director of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, will kick off the second season of the "Fifth Fridays at St. Mary's Home" lecture series designed to raise awareness of issues affecting children with disabilities. Toland will discuss "Prevention of Osteopenia in Children with Special Needs" on April 29 from 1-2 p.m. in the Atrium at St. Mary's Home, 6171 Kempsville Circle, in Norfolk.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and Target has generously donated gift bags for attendees. RSVP to (757) 622-2208.

Toland is an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a pediatrician with North Shore Pediatrics in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. A native of Ireland, Toland attended medical school at National University of Ireland, University College in Dublin. He has been St. Mary's medical director since 2007.

Celebrate International Children's Book Day with a Good Read

2011-04-02T09:00:00.002-04:00

Today is International Children's Book Day, created by The International Board on Books for Young People, a nonprofit made up of people committed to bringing books and children together. It is celebrated on or around the birthday (April 2) of Hans Christian Andersen, author of "The Little Mermaid" and "The Little Match Girl." Each year a different country is the international sponsor of the holiday; that county asks one of its authors to write a message to the world's children and an illustrator to design a poster. The sponsor of the 2011 International Children's Book Day is Estonia. You can find out more here.

In the spirit of International Children's Day, here are some links to suggestions for children's books about disabilities:

And here's an article with guidelines on how to evaluate children's books that address disabilities.

Happy reading.

Showing Love to the Daughters of Wisdom

2011-02-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

A lucky winner picks up her prize.

For the second year in a row, staff at St. Mary’s Home are using Valentine's Day to show some love to the Daughters of Wisdom, the order of nuns who ran St. Mary's for decades.

Members of the Environmental Committee, which plans fun stuff to boost camaraderie, baked and bought cakes and other Valentine-themed goodies to be raffled off today Hungry staff bought tickets in droves, raising nearly $300 to be donated to the sisters. The committee is still accepting donations through Monday (Valentine's Day).

On Tuesday, the last nun on the staff, Sister Mary June Morin, retired after 51 years of serving children at St. Mary's. She was back today as a volunteer, but at least she got to sleep in -- until 7 a.m. -- after years of reporting to work at 4:30 a.m. to beat the tunnel traffic from nearby Portsmouth. You can read a lovely article about Sister from The Virginian-Pilot newspaper here.

Lucky winners.

Thank You, Sister Mary June, for 51 Years of Service

2011-02-08T17:15:00.001-05:00

From left: Shirley Parham of St. Mary's activities staff, Ashley and Sister Mary June Morin spent some time together in Sister's office during Sister's last day on the job today after 51 years at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

Fifty-one years ago today, Sister Mary June Morin arrived in Norfolk to work at what was then St. Mary's Infant Home. She spent the ensuing decades working, as she likes to put it, "in all the corners of St. Mary's," from doing laundry to teaching Montessori school to arranging activities.

Sister, the last nun on St. Mary's staff, is finally going to get a well-deserved chance to relax. Today was her last day on the job at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. She arrived at her usual time -- about 4:30 a.m. She worked on scrapbooks detailing St. Mary's history, handed over paperwork to staff who will be assuming her duties and, of course, played with the children.

On Wednesday, St. Mary's will honor Sister with a special luncheon celebration. Sister has already promised to come back to the Home as a volunteer. Still, we all will miss her daily presence. She is the heart of St. Mary's Home.

UPDATE: Here's a story about Sister from WAVY-TV 10:

St. Mary's nun retires after 51 years: wavy.com

Hot off the Press: Our Latest Newsletter

2011-01-14T10:28:00.000-05:00

The latest issue of St. Mary's newsletter will be hitting mailboxes soon, but you can take a look at it right here:

Open publication - Free publishing - More children

Army Instructors Have Lots to Teach About Generosity

2010-12-22T12:20:00.000-05:00

From left, Staff Sgt. Everett Colby, Brandon, Sgt. First Class Justin Hanson and Staff Sgt. Donovan Cooper in the lobby of St. Mary's Home.

About 20 helicopter mechanics instructors stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis on the Peninsula donated Christmas presents to the children and young adults who live at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk. Three of the instructors delivered the presents to the Home on Dec. 17 and took a tour of the facility.

They also presented 15-year-old Brandon, one of more than 80 children and young adults who live at the Home, with a commemorative coin representing their unit. The instructors are with the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School, a tenant activity at the base.

Santa Would Love a Sweet Ride Like This

2010-12-16T12:47:00.000-05:00

On Dasher, on Dancer ... You could win this beautiful Beetle, parked in front of St. Mary's Home for the holidays, and help children and young adults who have severe disabilities.

Raffle tickets are still available for this beautiful Salsa Red VW Beetle, donated by Checkered Flag Volkswagen to benefit the children and young adults of St. Mary's Home. But don't delay, because only 800 tickets will be sold, at $50 apiece.

The winning ticket will be drawn during the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary's 6th Annual Gala & Auction presented by Checkered Flag Volkswagen on Feb.19 at The Westin-Town Center in Virginia Beach. You need not be present to win, but we'd love to see you there.

For raffle tickets or more information, call (757) 622-2208 ext. 381 or visit St. Mary's website.

Here's a video of the Beetle arriving at St. Mary's Home earlier this year:

Thomas Nelson Nursing Students Spread Holiday Cheer at St. Mary's Home

2010-12-15T15:52:00.000-05:00

Ashley smiles as nursing students from Thomas Nelson Community College sing "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and other classic holiday songs in her classroom at St. Mary's Home.

First, they took their finals. Then, they came to St. Mary's Home to spread some holiday cheer. And of course, they brought Santa with them.

Santa and Amonte.

A group of nursing students from Thomas Nelson Community College finished their final exams this morning, then dropped by the Home to bring presents for the children -- and candy canes and chocolates for the nursing staff. They also visited with children in the classrooms and sang Christmas songs.

The nursing students (including Santa) were already familiar with St. Mary's, having done clinical rotations at the Home. Their holiday visit continues an annual tradition started by Thomas Nelson nursing students in the late 1990s.

"This is something very, very generous for the students to do," said Susan Kok, St. Mary's director of staff development, who welcomed the group back to the Home today.

The Thomas Nelson nursing students with Marilou Wilder, far left, and Susan Kok, far right, from St. Mary's staff.

Amelia and Ashley's Tea for Six

2010-12-13T13:21:00.001-05:00

Seated: Ashley, left, and Amelia, right. Standing, from left to right: Annie MacRae and her mother, Ann MacRae; Amelia's mother, Myra Perdue; and Martha Price Stewart, director of development at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. (photo by Nicole Hoskins Jones)

When it comes to tea parties, Amelia is a natural. How could she not be, since, as her mother noted, Amelia is from the South, where folks drink plenty of tea?

Amelia recently donned a fancy hat and dress and headed to the charming tearoom at Rowena's in Norfolk for a luncheon. Rowena's founder, Rowena Fullinwider, is an associate member of the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary's Home. Joining Amelia were Ashley, who, like Amelia, lives at St. Mary's Home; Amelia's mother, Myra Perdue; and some special friends: Martha Price Stewart, St. Mary's director of development, and Stewart's sister, Ann MacRae, and niece, Annie MacRae, who were visiting from North Carolina.

"I suppose we could change Amelia's name just a bit to Amelia Belle," said her mother. "This was Amelia's first time attending a tea party. However, it is the beginning of many to come."

The trip to the tearoom is just one of the many field trips into the community that St. Mary's recreational therapy staff organize for the children. For example, on Saturday, Trent, Antwoine, Camille, Dreshawn and Tyquawn visited the Virginia Air & Space Center in Hampton -- thanks to tickets generously donated by Adams Outdoor Advertising. And Kishaun, Nate G., Katie A., Meagan E. and Molly went to see the holiday lights along the boardwalk at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

A Family Tradition of Giving Continues

2010-12-07T16:01:00.000-05:00

Two Sisters, and two sisters: From left, Sister Mary June Morin of St. Mary's Home, Sister Francis Clements, and Clements' nieces, sisters Michelle Masters and Mona Lankford, during the family's recent visit to St. Mary's.

Sisters Michelle Masters and Mona Lankford visited St. Mary's Home last week to donate Christmas presents to the children and young adults, including sleepers and school supplies. This was the 14th year the family brought presents to the Home for the holidays, following a tradition started by their mother, Mary Catherine Masters of Portsmouth, who used to rock babies at the former St. Mary's Infant Home.

The daughters had never ventured beyond the front lobby of St. Mary's current building, which opened almost six years ago. So during their recent visit, they took a tour of the 88,000-square-foot facility and saw children attending class and having fun during physical therapy sessions with St. Mary's staff. With them was their aunt, Sister Francis Clements, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, based in Oldenburg, Ind. Sister Francis and her nieces also got to meet Sister Mary June Morin, a Daughter of Wisdom who has worked at St. Mary's Home for more than 50 years and is the last nun remaining on the staff.

Sadly, Mary Masters, who was 81, passed away on Sunday. In yet another act of generosity, the family requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Oasis Social Ministry or St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. Her legacy of kindness and thoughtfulness lives on through her family.

Craig Moeller of WVEC-TV Visits St. Mary's Home

2010-12-02T14:46:00.000-05:00

Local TV personality Craig Moeller greets 6-year-old Madison in one of St. Mary's classrooms.

Craig Moeller, meteorologist with WVEC-TV in Norfolk, visited St. Mary's Home today and met with children and staff. St. Mary's Auxiliary Board President Karen Hibbard led Moeller on a tour of the 88,000-square-foot Home, including classrooms and therapy facilities.

Moeller is going to be the emcee for the Auxiliary Board's sixth annual gala and auction fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at The Westin-Town Center in Virginia Beach. This year's festivities will feature a raffle for a 2010 salsa red VW Beetle courtesy of Checkered Flag Volkswagen.

For raffle tickets or more information about the auction, including sponsorship opportunities and how to donate auction items, call (757) 622-2208 ext. 381.

Hamda Goes to the Library

2010-11-16T11:29:00.003-05:00

Gwen Dickens, a certified nursing assistant, reads to Hamda as part of their daily routine. (photo by Re:Act Media)

The little boy got up from the table where he was playing with toys and walked over to the group that had just come into the library. Looking at the girl in the wheelchair, he asked the adults with her, "What's wrong with her?"

There's nothing wrong with Hamda, explained Stephanie Bailey, a member of the recreational therapy staff at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. She's just maybe a little different from you, Bailey told the boy.

"Oh," the boy responded, then went back to his table. Soon, he returned with a message for Hamda, who was visiting a library for the first time: "I'll show you where all the books are."

Hamda beamed.

She's been doing that a lot lately.

The recreational therapy staff has been organizing weekly field trips for 7-year-old Hamda, such as a shopping excursion to pick out a new winter coat and the recent journey to the library. Her constant companion on the outings is Gwen Dickens, a certified nursing assistant.

Dickens has worked at St. Mary's Home for 36 years, most of those years on the night shift. About three years ago, she switched to the 7 a.m.-3 p.m. shift and was assigned to Hamda's room. Dickens has made it her mission, in addition to her regular duties, to make Hamda happy -- and she's succeeded. The two have grown extremely close as they've established a comfortable daily routine centered around talks, walks throughout St. Mary's 88,000-square-foot building and story time, with Dickens reading books that Hamda chooses. Hamda didn't smile much at first; now she smiles a lot as a way to express herself, especially when Dickens is around.

"This is a special place and when you see a child's accomplishment, it does your heart good to know that you have contributed in some small way to foster that accomplishment," Dickens said.

Hamda (and Dickens) will be going back to the library soon. Hamda's even applying for her very own library card.

Hamda and Gwen Dickens. (photo by Re:Act Media)

How Many Mermaids Can You Count in This Photo?

2010-10-26T14:21:00.000-04:00

The answer is 14.

Embrace, St. Mary's mermaid statue, is surrounded by 13 members of the Ocean View Women's Golf Association, who call themselves the "Ocean View Mermaids." Also in the photo is Mary Helen Hilton, St. Mary's director of annual giving (seventh person from the left, standing).

For three years in a row, the Ocean View Women's Golf Association has supported the nonprofit St. Mary's Home with a golf tournament. Members visited the Home today to donate $2,500 from the proceeds of this year's tournament.

"We know that a lot of work goes into the tournament," Hilton said as she and Martha Price Stewart, St. Mary's director of development, greeted the group. "It just means a lot to the care care of our children. It really touches the heart. Thank you."

Martha Price Stewart, St. Mary's director of development, (left) and Mary Helen Hilton, director of annual giving, (center), stand in front of the donor tree in St. Mary's lobby as they accept a donation to the Home presented by Sally Corliss, chair of the Ocean View Women's Golf Association's tournament. "It's because of donations like this that we can go the extra mile" for the children, Stewart told the group.

FM99's Rick Rumble and Rod Fitzwell Tour St. Mary's Home

2010-10-25T16:49:00.001-04:00

Children from St. Mary's, and Other Kids, Have Fun at Homearama

2010-10-25T12:17:00.003-04:00

Carrington, who lives at St. Mary's Home, works on a craft project with help from Angelica Yankauskas, a member of St. Mary's recreational therapy staff, during Kids-a-Rama at Homearama on Sunday. (photo by Nicole Hoskins Jones)

There’s something for everyone at Homearama, even the kids.

On Sunday, staff from St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children held the first of two Kids-a-Ramas – with games, arts and crafts, book readings and more – during the Tidewater Builders Association’s Fall 2010 Homearama in Norfolk’s East Beach community.

They also will hold a fall-themed Kids-a-Rama on Sunday, Oct. 31, from 1-4 p.m. St. Mary's is the recipient of proceeds from the sale of the Charity House at the Homearama showcase of homes.

About 70 children, including five from St. Mary’s Home, participated in the first Kids-a-Rama. They transformed coffee filters into flowers and butterflies, turned tissue paper into stained “glass,” decorated mermaid coloring-book pages, built houses out of craft sticks, created bookmarks, plucked toy ducks out of a pool to win prizes and played ring toss and cornhole.

Ron Herrick, manager of St. Mary's environmental services department, and his wife, Melanie, stopped by Kids-a-Rama to work on some arts and crafts. (photo by Nicole Hoskins Jones)

Broderick, who lives at St. Mary's Home, tries to fish a toy duck out of the pool, with assistance from Stephanie Bailey, a recreational therapy assistant at St. Mary's (in yellow), and Target team member Betty Hollowell (in red). (photo by Nicole Hoskins Jones)

“The children who live at St. Mary’s do many of these same activities, with some modifications to make them therapy-based,” said Nicole Hoskins Jones, St. Mary’s director of recreational therapy services, who organized Kids-a-Rama.

Target team members are helping with Kids-a-Rama. (photo by Nicole Hoskins Jones)

Local Target stores donated supplies for Kids-a-Rama and Target team members are volunteering to help with the programs.

Also among those helping with the effort is Jenna Crumley, the 9-year-old daughter of the Charity House builder, Scott Crumley. Jenna and her friends have started a "Kid2Kid" program to reach out to children of St. Mary’s Home. They have donated party materials to the children, and sold lemonade to raise funds for the children.

The first Kids-a-Rama also included story time, with local author Lisa Suhay reading her children’s book, “There Goes a Mermaid! A NorFolktale.” To celebrate St. Mary’s 65th anniversary, the Home sponsored the publication of a special updated edition of the book, which was inspired by the statues around Norfolk that are shaped like the city’s mermaid symbol.

Honoring the Woman Behind the Scenes

2010-10-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

Barbara Perry and CEO William C. Giermak

When we give tours at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, we spend a lot of time talking about the direct care of the children and young adults. But we also never fail to mention the people who keep the Home running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year -- people like Barbara Perry, who is retiring from the laundry department after working at St. Mary's Home for 39 years.

"You've toiled behind the scenes," CEO William C. Giermak told Perry during a party Friday in her honor. "We very much appreciate all you do, especially the love and caring you show for the children. We're going to miss you a lot."

Celebrating St. Mary's Girl Scouts

2010-10-15T09:41:00.002-04:00

A Girl Scout crossing a bridge during an investiture, rededication and bridging ceremony at St. Mary's Home. (photo by Lidia Gonzales)

By Norma Loomis, evening program support technician

Family, friends and staff recently gathered to celebrate with several new, current and former members of Girl Scout Troop #5067, the troop at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children.

Amelia, Alexandria and Jennifer became Girl Scouts during an investiture ceremony on Tuesday in St. Mary’s Atrium. In addition, four girls who already belong to the troop – Alysha, Ashley, Koko and Lauren – rededicated themselves to Girl Scouts, while two former residents of St. Mary’s Home – Victoria and Michelle – took part in a “bridging” to mark their growth and their transition to the next level as Scouts. Environmental services staff at St Mary’s Home built the wonderful bridge for the “bridging” ceremony.

The entire ceremony was a great way for parents, friends and staff to come together and support these girls and young women. During the ceremony, we learned that the Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. It was so exciting to see the members of Girl Scout Troop #5067 proudly wearing their sashes as a symbol of their accomplishment throughout the years as part of the troop. This is something that the new members look forward to.

Girl Scouts build meaningful relationships between the troop and people around them as well as creating memories for these young girls.

St. Mary's Home on "The Hampton Roads Show"

2010-09-28T16:27:00.000-04:00

Staff from St. Mary's Home were in the studio audience of "The Hampton Roads Show" this morning. If you didn't get a chance to catch the show live, here's a video of our segment talking about St. Mary's 5K this Saturday and the Fall 2010 Homearama Charity House,which will benefit St. Mary's Home:

Going Green at St. Mary's Home

2010-09-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

Workers from J.D. Baker & Sons prepare to pour a concrete slab that will be used for a recycling area at St. Mary's Home.

Recycling is about to get easier at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

While many employees already recycle their newspapers, cans and printer paper, the Home is getting ready to take a much bigger step toward going green. A container for cardboard, bottles, cans, newspapers, etc., will be installed on a new concrete slab on the Home's grounds.

"The new container will make it much easier to do something good for the environment," said Ron Herrick, heaad of St. Mary's environmental services department.

New United Way of South Hampton Roads CEO Visits St. Mary's Home

2010-08-25T13:44:00.003-04:00

Standing, from left: Nicole Hoskins Jones, St. Mary's director of recreational therapy services; Carol McCormack, the new CEO and president of United Way of South Hampton Roads; Mary Helen Hilton, St. Mary's director of annual giving; William C. Giermak, St. Mary's CEO. In front: Shanyla, who lives at St. Mary's Home. (Photo by Re:Act Media.)

St. Mary's Home recently welcomed Carol McCormack, the new CEO and president of United Way of South Hampton Roads. We are pleased to be one of the 70 worthy partner agencies supported by UWSHR. Get ready for campaign season, and LIVE UNITED.

First accepted into the Norfolk Community Chest in 1955, St. Mary’s Home has valued our relationship with United Way for many years. The Norfolk Community Chest became the United Way of South Hampton Roads in 1984, and for more than 50 years we have relied on generous support from this nonprofit organization.

As summer ends, we welcome the opportunity to join United Way colleagues in presentations and tours to share with others the difference their contributions make in the lives of our children and young adults at St. Mary’s.We look forward to the annual Day of Caring each September and appreciate the number of incredible projects volunteers accomplish on this day throughout Hampton Roads.

Win a Car and Help the Children of St. Mary's Home

2010-08-03T17:29:00.000-04:00

The Beetle pulls up to the entrance of St. Mary's Home.

Checkered Flag Volkswagen in Virginia Beach has generously donated a new Salsa Red 2010 VW Beetle to St. Mary's Auxiliary Board, which will raffle off the car to benefit the children of St. Mary's Home. The car arrived on Tuesday, Aug. 3, for display in St. Mary's front lobby. Raffle tickets go on sale Sept. 1 for $50 apiece; only 800 tickets will be sold. Details coming soon on St. Mary's website. The winning ticket will be drawn during the Auxiliary's auction on Feb. 19, 2011.

"I was really moved by the level of care that St. Mary's gives to these children," said Todd Collins, general manager of Checkered Flag Volkswagen. "What they do here is unbelievable. The level of care is something like I've never seen before."

Gathered around the car on display in St. Mary's lobby are, from left, Kamaia, Amonte, Director of Development Martha Stewart, Auxiliary Board President Karen Hibbard, Jahmari and CEO William C. Giermak, all of St. Mary's Home, and Todd Collins, general manager of Checkered Flag's Hyundai/Volkswagen division, and Christine Knowles, eMarketing diretor of Checkered Flag Motor Car Corp., Inc. Seated behind the desk is receptionist Delores Curry.

For more photos of the Beetle's arrival, be sure to check out St. Mary's Facebook page.

Here's a video of the Beetle's arrival:

Thank You, and Goodbye

2010-08-01T20:49:00.001-04:00

Carla Aquino, St. Mary's chief of nursing, left, with her mother,

primary nurse Cora Culabutan, who recently retired from St. Mary's after 18 years.

Housekeeper Lovine White, who also just retired, after 10 years of service.

They came from different departments, but each of the two employees whose retirements were recently celebrated have left lasting impacts upon the children and staff of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

On Tuesday, staff gathered to say goodbye to housekeeper Lovine White. During a farewell party in the Atrium, CEO William C. Giermak thanked White for all the hard work she has done in her 10 years at St. Mary's. He noted that St. Mary's five-year-old building still feels new because of the efforts of White and other members of the environmental services department, and "having a new facility contributes directly to the care of the children."

The next day, it was time for another party, this time to say goodbye to Cora Culabutan, a primary nurse in charge of one of St. Mary's four residential neighborhoods. She worked at St. Mary's for 18 years. "Nursing service is the backbone" of St. Mary's, Giermak said. "We're losing a pretty key component of that backbone."

Carla Aquino, St. Mary's chief nursing officer, also is Culabutan's daughter. She said her mother inspired her to do her best and also inspired her colleagues at the Home. "She will always be a part of St. Mary's," Aquino said.

"I want to thank everyone for all the support, the love and the caring," Culabutan said.

Artist Brightens St. Mary's Home with Playful Paintings

2010-07-26T16:48:00.005-04:00

Shirley Burnette with one of her paintings newly installed at St. Mary's Home.

By Chelsie Williams
marketing communications intern

Once-bare walls of St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children now are lively with bright paintings by Virginia Beach artist Shirley Burnette. Each wing has a different theme, such as the seashore or flowers. Burnette visited the Home today to display her newest paintings, designed around a mermaid theme.

Before becoming an artist, Burnette was a visual manager at several department stores, working on window displays and flower arrangements, and shaping the stores’ overall atmosphere. During her time spent as a visual manager, she began painting murals for local businesses.

Burnette’s first mural was of the New York City skyline, for a diner in Virginia Beach. “After painting this mural I thought, ‘Hey, I could actually make this work,’ ” Burnette said about her realization that she had talent as a painter.

One of Burnette's murals at the old St. Mary's Home. (file photo)

She originally painted murals for St. Mary’s Home in the early 1990s, at its old location in downtown Norfolk. Ann Sparkman, St. Mary’s director of medical records, had called the store where Burnette was working at the time to ask whether the store could donate used displays. Burnette couldn’t donate the displays, but she offered to paint murals in her free time.

St. Mary’s moved to its current location about five years ago. Burnette recently volunteered her time and talent to decorate the halls. The parents of a child who used to live at St. Mary’s Home paid for the materials.

This time, Burnette is working on canvas. While the artwork has different themes, the paintings tie together through their playful style and vivid colors, which give the Home a more personal touch. Each painting is 3 feet by 3 feet – large enough so the children can easily see the colors and images. Burnette has decorated three wings of the Home so far and has plans to continue with a new jungle series.

For a look at more of Burnette's paintings, see St. Mary's Facebook page.

Run, Swim, Run

2010-07-22T16:14:00.000-04:00

"Take a bunch of athletes with hearts big to bursting, add in children & young adults with disabilities who couldn't participate in a race on their own, throw in jogging strollers, inflatable boats, lots of planning and even more determination, and the result is magic."

Click here to read more about last weekend's Allen Stone Memorial Run Swim Run & 5K at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Three children from St. Mary's Home participated in the race, and Kathy Brobst, a physical therapist assistant at St. Mary's, did a lovely job of capturing the race in words and images.

Save the Date to Attend Bioethics Day

2010-07-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children will present Bioethics Day on Nov. 18, 2010:

Caught in the Middle:
Complex Relationships in Healthcare

Keynote Speaker: John F. Crowley, chairman & CEO of Amicus Therapeutics
Author of Chasing Miracles: The Crowley Family Journey of Strength, Hope and Joy, a memoir from the family that inspired the film Extraordinary Measures

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

8 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
CHKD Brickhouse Auditorium

An electronic brochure to follow in the fall. Check the website or call 668-8246 for updates.

Topics

Interpersonal relationships
Values, attributes and accessibility patients and families expect of healthcare team
Impact of generational differences
Ethics of research
E-communication: risks, benefits, realities

FREE Bonus

Join us to see and discuss the film "Extraordinary Measures" at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 7:15 p.m. Register NOW here.

Presented by Kohl's Cares for Kids Family Forum

Save the Date: Learn About GI Problems Related to Special Needs Children

2010-07-09T11:17:00.001-04:00

Join us Friday, July 30, for the next installment of the new "Fifth Fridays at St. Mary's Home" lecture series featuring physicians who work with St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. We've designed the series to raise awareness of issues affecting children with disabilities.

Dr. Marc Tsou, gastrointestinal specialist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, will discuss "GI Problems Related to Special Needs Children." The lecture will take place from 1-2 p.m. in St. Mary's Atrium. It is free and open to the public.

RSVP to 757.622.2208 or see our website for more information.

In April, Dr. Larry White, a neurologist at CHKD, inaugurated the "Fifth Fridays" series lecture series with a discussion of "Seizures in the Special Needs Child."

You Can Help the Charity House Help the Children of St. Mary's Home

2010-07-07T16:33:00.000-04:00

A letter from our CEO ...

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you today on behalf of some of Virginia’s most medically fragile children. You can help improve the lives of the nearly 90 children and young adults who live, go to school and receive around-the-clock care at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk.

This summer, Scott Crumley of Crumley Group, Inc., is building the Tidewater Builders Association’s Charity House for the 2010 Fall Homearama in Norfolk’s East Beach community. All proceeds from the sale of the house will go to St. Mary’s Home, a nonprofit organization that has been caring for children for 65 years.

Your donation of services, material, furnishings or equipment will help offset the cost of building the Charity House. That means more money from the sale of the beautiful Charity House will go to the children, to make their home at St. Mary’s more beautiful, more inviting and more personal.

For Greg, at left, we’ll redecorate his bedroom to reflect his love of cars and also get him involved in car club activities in the community.

For Brandon, right, who tries so hard to communicate but can’t verbalize, we’ll provide advanced technology devices he can use to express his likes and dislikes so we can honor his wishes.

Every child at St. Mary's has a unique wish that your donation can help fulfill.

St. Mary’s is honored to have been chosen for the first time to benefit from the Homearama Charity House. We are grateful to St. Mary’s Trustee Vince Napolitano for nominating us, to Tidewater Builders Association for selecting us and to the Crumley family for supporting us with their hard work and generosity.

Your support of the Fall Homearama Charity House will build a strong foundation for children with severe disabilities to have happy lives and achieve their fullest potential. To help, contact Jill Woolard of Crumley Group at 428-5252. Thank you.

Sincerely,

William C. Giermak
CEO

Nurturing the Spirit

2010-07-07T09:48:00.000-04:00

Children of St. Mary's attend a church service. (Photo by Kathy Brobst.)

St. Mary's Home is a nurturing place. The staff do a wonderful job of taking care of the children and young adults who live at the home. Kathy Brobst, a physical therapist assistant, recently wrote on her blog about a field trip some of the children took to nurture their spiritual side. Please check it out.

Checkered Flag Holding Facebook Fan Drive to Benefit St. Mary's Home

2010-07-01T16:07:00.002-04:00

Checkered Flag is a great supporter of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.The last two years, the general manager of Checkered Flag Volkswagen in Virginia Beach has turned the dealership's annual "Buy a Car from a Rock Start" sales event into a benefit for the children of the Home.

Now, Checkered Flag is pushing the pedal to the metal with an incredibly generous offer -- and a challenge.

If 500 new people "like" Checkered Flag Auto Group's Facebook fan page in the month of July, Checkered Flag Volkswagen will donate a brand new 2010 VW Beetle to the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary's Home. The new Beetle will be raffled off during the Auxiliary's 6th Annual Gala and Auction in February, with all proceeds going to the Home.

Read more about the challenge -- and about a Checkered Flag employee's recent visit to the Home -- here. Please recommend Checkered Flag Auto Group to all your Facebook friends, and spread the word to to help reach the goal. While you're on Facebook, don't forget to click the "like" button St. Mary's page as well.

(Not So) Lazy Days of Summer

2010-06-25T14:57:00.001-04:00

Recreational therapy assistant Mary Eckstein helps Bryan float in St. Mary's therapy pool.

Twins Brandon and Bryan got a treat today: They spent part of the morning in the pool. The 20-month-old boys arrived at St. Mary's Home not too long ago for respite, or short-stay, care, and this was the first time they got to go for a dip in the comfortably heated water.

Bryan's twin, Brandon, with Kathryn Simmons, recreational therapy support specialist.

While getting in the water is a lot of fun, it's also therapy. "We are working on their range of motion and sensory stimulation by providing them an experience they don't typically get," said Kathryn Simmons, recreational therapy support specialist. "The warm water in the therapy pool helps them loosen up their muscles. That way they can have a greater range of motion in their extremities."

Mary Eckstein and Colton.

The pool isn't just for the littlest children at St. Mary's Home. Colton, 17, also had the chance to splash around today. And staff of the evening activities and recreational and physical therapy departments frequently work with other children in the pool.

UPDATE: Here's a video from today's pool session:

Congratulations, Nancy. We'll Miss You.

2010-06-16T16:20:00.000-04:00

Nancy Mitchell, in yellow, with members of the housekeeping staff at St. Mary's Home, during today's party in Mitchell's honor.

St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children opened its current building more than five years ago, but the facility still looks and feels brand new. Much of the credit for that, CEO William C. Giermak said today, goes to the hardworking housekeeping staff, supervised by Nancy Mitchell, who is retiring after working for St. Mary's for 16 years.

"We have really enjoyed working with Nancy over the years," Giermak said during a luncheon in Mitchell's honor. "I always felt like Nancy had my back. She was always there to help us, to help things run smoothly."

Mitchell thanked St. Mary's for the party, adding, "And I want to thank my coworkers. I'm going to miss you."

And everyone at St. Mary's is going to miss Mitchell, one of the people who make St. Mary's truly feel like home.

A Smashing Good Time

2010-06-10T22:46:00.005-04:00

Stephanie Bailey, early intervention technician, left, and Nicole Hoskins Jones, director of recreational therapy, help 20-month-old Bryan create a painting by rolling a rubber ball over a piece of paper covering another piece of paper that was splattered with paint. The activity helps Bryan improve his range of motion. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

"How about yellow?" Nicole Hoskins Jones, St. Mary's director of recreational therapy, asked as she held up a brightly colored bottle of paint.

"No," 9-year-old Carrington replied.

"Green?" Jones asked next.

"No."

"Orange?"

"No."

"Do you like pink?"

"Yeah!" said Carrington, who then also gave her approval to blue.

Her colors chosen, Carrington was ready to begin the task at hand: Creating "smash" paintings for potential display at the Fall 2010 Homearama Charity House. Profits from the sale of the house will benefit Carrington and more than 80 other children and young adults who live at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children.

Twins Brandon and Bryan, 20 months, joined in the fun as first-time Homearama builder Scott Crumley visited St. Mary's today to display the model of his Homearama entry -- the Spanish Colonial-style home called "Santa Maria" -- and chat with media representatives about the project. The 2,800-square-foot home will feature a courtyard with a pool and outdoor fireplace.

"The proceeds from the beautiful home Scott is going to build are going to be used to make St. Mary's Home more beautiful," said William C. Giermak, St. Mary's CEO. St. Mary's will use the funds to redecorate and personalize the children's bedrooms to make them more inviting and homelike.

William C. Giermak, CEO of St. Mary's Home, left, and builder Scott Crumley with the model of the Charity House.

Crumley Group, Inc. needs help from suppliers and subcontractors. To donate materials or labor, contact Jill Woolard, who is following the Charity House project on the Crumley Group blog.

Read more about today's event at the blog of The Tidewater Builders Association. Watch a video here:

Digging in the Dirt

2010-06-03T18:02:00.000-04:00

Some of the children set to work this afternoon to beautify the bus stop at St. Mary's Home.

With help from members of the activities staff, the children planted flowers and greenery, using plastic cups to transfer potting soil from bowls to the plant stands.

Afterward, some of the children, like Alex, were a bit dirty, but they all were happy.

St. Mary's in the Community: Speaking About the Politics of Food

2010-06-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

Lynn Earle, director of nutrition services for St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, will help The League of Women Voters of South Hampton Roads kick off a yearlong look at the politics of food.

Earle will speak this Sunday, June 6, at a get-together at Tabb's at Riverview restaurant, 4019 Granby Street, Norfolk. The event begins at 3:30 p.m with a business meeting, followed by a social at 4:30 p.m. and a program at 5 p.m. led by Earle and Bev Sell, manager of Five Points Community Farm Market. They will discuss the impact of agribusiness on local farmers, nutritional benefits of locally grown and raised foods and the regulation of food labels. At 6 p.m., there will be a dinner featuring seasonal and locally grown foods.

Tickets are $25. Click here for more information.

Create a Lasting Memory for Memorial Day

2010-05-27T16:55:00.000-04:00

Engraved with a loved one's name, a sentiment or an expression of gratitude, a paver creates a lasting memory. You can support the children and young adults of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children while recognizing someone special.

Memorial Day is a nice time to honor someone with a paver, but paver orders are always welcome.

One paver costs $150; each additional paver is $100. For information or to reserve a brick, contact Diane Zinn, (757) 622-2208 ext. 328 or (800) 237-6555.

Thank you for supporting the children and young adults of St. Mary's Home, and have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Unveiling the Charity House Model for the Fall Homearama

2010-05-20T16:55:00.003-04:00

From left, Richard N. Knapp, president of St. Mary's Board of Trustees; Janette Crumley of Crumley Group, Inc.;and William C. Giermak, CEO of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children; with the model of the Charity House.

Norfolk's East Beach along the Chesapeake Bay is a neighborhood patterned after classic southeastern seaboard coastal villages. The Charity House at the fall Homearama will fit right in among the beautiful homes in East Beach, but, with its Spanish colonial design, it also promises to stand out.

The family-owned Crumley Group, Inc., is building the Charity House, which will be on display at the showcase of homes set for Oct. 2-17. When the house is sold, proceeds will go to support the programs and services of St. Mary’s Home, which has been caring for Virginia children for 65 years.

Janette Crumley, wife of company president Scott Crumley, spoke today at the annual meeting and luncheon of St. Mary's Auxiliary Board. She brought with her a model that her husband built of the Charity House. At her invitation, Richard N. Knapp, president of St. Mary's Board of Trustees, and William C. Giermak, St. Mary's CEO, unveiled the model. Here's a closer look:

Crumley Group, Inc., of Virginia Beach, designs and builds award-winning custom homes and is participating in Homearama for the first time. Scott Crumley has said he was inspired to build the Charity House as a way to give back.

"It's such a blessing to put our family and your Home together," Janette Crumley said today. "We hope the sale is a big success and helps you have 65 more years of comfort and caring."

Graduation Day

2010-05-07T18:07:00.001-04:00

From left, Kim Kelly, her son, Greg, and WTKR anchor Barbara Ciara. Greg presented the bouquet of flowers to his mother during today's graduation ceremony. He also used his computerized communication device to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in a surprise for his mother and the staff, family and friends gathered in St. Mary' s Atrium.

Seven years ago, Kim Kelly was scared when she brought her son to live at St. Mary's Home -- scared that no one could care for Greg as well as she and her mother did.

"When I was able to see all they did for him -- the care he received, the love that he received -- it was more than I could give him on my own. ... St. Mary's was the best decision for him," Kelly recalled today as Greg and five other young adults graduated from the Home.

Kelly said it was hard to "put seven years of wonderful" into just a few minutes as she spoke during the ceremony. She thanked the staff for loving her child and all of the children, and for making St. Mary's a place where Greg could be happy and safe.

"Angels really do exist," she said. "They exist right here."

The young people who graduated today are 21, the age young adults leave the Home, or will turn 21 in the next year, and graduation signals the end of their formal education.The graduates will be missed as they move on to other places, such as adult intermediate care facilities or group homes.

The caregivers and teachers who knew the graduates the best shared a bit about them during the ceremony and talked about how much they had learned from Demetrias, Devonta, Greg, Justin, Katheryne and Steven. They reminisced about planning birthday parties, decorating beds, sneaking special treats and watching the children grow into young adults. "You don't see them as your students -- you look at them as your children," said teacher Gay James Parson.

WTKR NewsChannel 3 anchor Barbara Ciara, the keynote speaker, said it was obvious from hearing the stories that "you guys -- you're not staff, you're family.''

"My grandmother used to say that 'Children are like lumps of clay,' " Ciara said. "What she meant by that is each person who touches a child leaves an impression. And what I've found here today is there are a lot of good impressions on the children who are growing and living here at St. Mary's. You walk in here and you're just enveloped by the love and the caring, and it's just a good place to be."

WTKR aired a story about graduation during its 4 p.m. newscast, but Ciara also promised to come back to share more about St. Mary's Home, which has been caring for Virginia children for 65 years.

Video from St. Mary's Prom: Part 2

2010-05-04T16:15:00.000-04:00

More video from WTKR's story about St. Mary's prom:

Video from St. Mary's Prom: Part 1

2010-05-04T16:11:00.000-04:00

St. Mary's Home held its fifth annual prom on Sunday, with help from students from Norfolk Academy.

WTKR Channel 3 in Norfolk ran stories about St. Mary's prom on its newscasts at 11 p.m. Sunday and 5 a.m. Monday. In the clip above, see an interview with Nicole Hoskins Jones, St. Mary's director of recreational therapy services.

Flowers, Dancing and a King and Queen for the Day

2010-05-02T17:25:00.001-04:00

2010 Prom King and Queen: Greg and Amanda

Some, like Victoria, had attended before and couldn't wait to go again. Others, like Colton, got to participate for the first time in a tradition of American youth -- prom.

"We never thought we'd see him in a tuxedo," said Colton's mother, Roxane Ward, who got a little teary-eyed watching her son and 20 other formally attired young adults at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children dancing in the Atrium on Sunday.

Cool Colton waits to make his entrance.

Students from Norfolk Academy turned the Atrium into a disco for the afternoon, using decorations from their own recent prom. They also served as dates for the young adults from the Home.

"We have so much fun at our prom, we thought they should have that fun, too," said Carter McCabe, co-president of Norfolk Academy's St. Mary's Club.

Devonta gets ready for the prom, with a little encouragement from Wayne Smith, a certified nursing assistant.

This was St. Mary's fifth annual prom, an event organized by the recreational therapy services department. Special thanks go to St. Mary's Auxiliary Board for paying for tuxedo rentals, the DJ and flowers.

Victoria has attended all five proms at St. Mary's Home.

Congratulations to Greg and Amanda, who were voted Prom King and Queen.

Look for a story about St. Mary's prom on WTKR NewsChannel 3 tonight.

St. Mary's Friend Receives Volunteer Award

2010-04-29T09:50:00.002-04:00

Trey White with Angela West at the 2009 Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Virginia Beach. Angela joined staff at St. Mary's table last night in support of Trey at the Volunteer Hampton Roads dinner at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. (photo by Ginny Cohen)

Trey White – a familiar face to St. Mary’s staff and children – accepted an “Individual Adult Volunteer” award last night at the Volunteer Hampton Roads awards dinner. With nearly 500 people in attendance and 22 individuals or groups being recognized, Trey had a cheering section that even the lifetime achievement honoree, Tom Frantz, noted in his remarks.

Trey created Team Hoyt VB, a local offshoot of a national father-and-son team that competes in athletic events. Trey has organized runners, participants, families, volunteers, transportation, registrations, consent forms, photography, pre-race parties and more for 14 events over two years, covering more than 60 miles and touching hundreds of lives. That includes taking part in St. Mary's 5K fundraiser, which this year will be Oct. 2, once again at Fort Story.

Team Hoyt VB runners at the awards dinner: from left, Willie Shepherd, Greg Battaglia, Chris Graves and Trey White. (photo by Soozi McClain)

What motivates Trey? He has said, “It touches me to see the kids light up, get excited and feel the thrill of the wind through the hair. God gave me the ability to run and the compassion to give back to the community — what better pairing than this project of giving time with appreciative kids whose smiles just melt you. We are the lucky ones as we get just as much (if not more) out of it than they do.”

What does it mean to people in our community? People with disabilities feel the difference an advocate can make when you look at individuals for what they can do versus what they can’t. Here’s what just a few people have shared over the past two years:

Denise: “Ian is making strides that we never thought were possible. Ian enjoyed himself so much, and as his mom it was just another dream that my son is doing the impossible with his disabilities, leaps and bounds.”

Sonya: “We look forward to next year’s running events and all the beautiful children. What an awesome gift — to be connected in community, service and spirit.”

Tara: “I am truly thankful for (Team Hoyt) giving my family these amazing experiences and wonderful memories. Alex found so much joy in each race. As his mother seeing him happy and excited filled my heart. I could not hold back the tears. I am so blessed that we were able to be a part of something so amazing.”

Congratulations to our friend Trey. See you at the races – go Team Hoyt!

-- post by Mary Helen Hilton, St. Mary's director of annual giving, who has been working with Trey and Team Hoyt

New Fifth Fridays Lecture Series at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children

2010-04-27T09:53:00.001-04:00

Join us this Friday when Dr. Larry White inaugurates the "Fifth Fridays at St. Mary's Home" lecture series featuring physicians who work with St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. We've designed the series to raise awareness of issues affecting children with disabilities.

White, a neurologist at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, will kick things off with a discussion of "Seizures in the Special Needs Child," with some time for Q&A. He'll speak from 1-2 p.m. in St. Mary's Atrium.

Call 757.622.2208 or see our website for more information.

And mark your calendars for the next "Fifth Fridays" lecture at 1 p.m. on July 30, when Dr. Marc Tsou, GI specialist at CHKD, will discuss "GI Problems Related to Special Needs Children."

A New Way of Looking at Our Newsletter

2010-04-26T20:44:00.000-04:00

We're experimenting with new ways to get information to families, staff and friends of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. We print and distribute a newsletter three times a year and also post a PDF of it on our website, but we're now looking into other digital publishing options. Would you be interested in reading a PDF that allows you to to "turn" pages on your computer screen? See an example below using our spring 2010 newsletter:

St. Mary's Home Featured in City of Norfolk's Annual Report

2010-04-26T10:14:00.002-04:00

St. Mary’s Home is featured in the City of Norfolk’s 2010 annual report, which covers 2009. The Home turned 65 in December.

The report, published by Inside Business magazine, is available online here, or see below. Scroll to page 62 of the PDF (the actual page is numbered 60) to see the information about St. Mary’s Home.

Spring Concert & Dedication

2010-04-19T12:23:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, St. Mary's Home continued celebrating its 65th anniversary with a free, public concert by The Rhythm Project. The acclaimed world percussion youth ensemble is the primary community program of the Virginia Arts Festival. "We love this music," Martha Stewart, St. Mary's director of development, said in introducing the group. "It's the kind of music you can feel."

After the concert, we dedicated a number of recent additions to the Home, including a koi pond, library, refurbished family room and our signature mermaid statue, "Embrace." Crystle, who happened to be celebrating her 21st birthday on Sunday, pulled a red ribbon with Scott Crumley, who is building the Charity House at the Tidewater Builders Association's Fall Homearama. Proceeds from the home will benefit the children and young adults of St. Mary's Home. "What a great way for us to help you celebrate your 65th anniversary," said William H. Halprin, president of the Tidewater Builders Association, noting the organization's long tradition of giving back to the community.

Also during the event, Karen Hibbard, president of the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary's, presented the Home with a check for $10,000 for scholarships to send children from the Home to summer camp. Most of the money was raised during the Auxiliary's auction in February, with the Auxiliary kicking in $500.

In a nod to history, members of The Cape Henry Model A Ford Club displayed their beautiful antique cars in front of the Home throughout Sunday's events.

To see more photos from the spring concert and dedication, check out this slideshow:

Join Us on Sunday for a Free Concert -- and More

2010-04-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we will continue celebrating our 65th anniversary with a free, public concert by The Rhythm Project at 2 p.m. in the Atrium at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. The acclaimed world percussion youth ensemble is the primary community program of the Virginia Arts Festival. The group also performed at the Home in April 2009 (see photo).

After the concert, we will dedicate a number of recent additions to the Home, including a koi pond, library and our signature mermaid statue, "Embrace." Enjoy refreshments throughout the day, and be sure to also check out the display of antique cars by members of The Cape Henry Antique Automobile Club.

To RSVP or for more information, call 757.622.2208.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-04-16T10:16:00.001-04:00

Photos of the Sensory Garden at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk were featured yesterday in The Beacon, The Virginian-Pilot's tab for residents in nearby Virginia Beach. The Junior Virginia Beach Garden Club funded the garden, and the photos accompanied an article about the club's flower sale this weekend. The article isn't online, but you can see one of the photos above. Taken last June when the garden was in full bloom, the photo (by Weyo) shows occupational therapy assistant Betsy Turner and 5-year-old Hamda enjoying the flowers.

Here's a more recent photo, from a different angle, of the garden in its spring green finery:

The Junior Virginia Beach Garden Club supports community projects including St. Mary's Sensory Garden and the restoration of plantings at Crab Creek Boat Ramp near the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach. The flower sale is Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. For information, click here.

Our Own Cherry Blossom Festival

2010-04-12T16:43:00.000-04:00

The grounds at St. Mary's Home are particularly lovely in the spring, and children like Jahmari love to go outside.

Photos from White House Easter Egg Roll

2010-04-06T18:24:00.001-04:00

Carrington's grandfather has shared photos he took when he, Carrington and her mother went to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House on Monday:

"It was just amazing to see all the kids there," said the proud grandfather, Harold Brown Jr. His favorite part of the experience? "Just seeing her smile."

To read more about Carrington's Easter trip, see today's Daily Press. The story is online here.

UPDATE: WTKR-TV Channel 3 also had a story, on its 11 p.m. newscast. You can watch it online here.

Grandpa's Love is Girl's Easter Gift

2010-04-06T11:07:00.000-04:00

(2008 file photo of Carrington by Philip Holman for St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children)

The Daily Press of Newport News has a wonderful story on its front page today about Carrington, a 9-year-old Hampton girl who lives at St. Mary's Home. Susan Smiglieski Acker writes about how the love of Carrington's maternal grandfather made Easter Monday extra special for Carrington and her mother.

You can read the story online here, but if you get a chance, pick up the newspaper. We may be a bit biased, but the front page looks spectacular.

UPDATE: From St. Mary's Home to the White House

2010-04-05T17:11:00.001-04:00

Carrington and her mother at St. Mary's 5K race in 2008

A grandfather's handwritten letter to President Obama turned into a trip to the White House for a 9-year-old Hampton girl who lives at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk.

Carrington, her mother and her maternal grandfather were at the White House this afternoon to take part in the 2010 Easter Egg Roll.

"It was beautiful," said Carrington's mother, Cecelia Walker, as the family was getting ready to head back to southeastern Virginia after a long day. "The highlight of it all: There were 1,200 volunteers.We found a volunteer who guided us through the whole thing, every single station."

In February, Carrington's grandfather, Harold C. Brown Jr. of San Francisco, mailed a letter to the president requesting that Carrington be invited to this year's Easter Egg Roll. He included some photos of his granddaughter.

Last week, he received a call from the White House and an email letting him know that three tickets had been reserved for him, his granddaughter and his daughter. The proud grandpa flew from California to Virginia so the three of them could drive together to Washington, D.C., on Easter Sunday.

You can read more about Carrington's adventure here, on the website of the Daily Press of Newport News.

For more information about the Easter Egg Roll, click here.

Civic-Minded

2010-04-05T12:07:00.000-04:00

Melanie Perez-Lopez is the director of social work at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children. She also is president of the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. She's quoted in an article in the April issue of Tidewater Women.Click here to take a look.

From St. Mary's Home to the White House

2010-04-04T14:29:00.000-04:00

Carrington with her mother and grandfather, at St. Mary's Home

A 9-year-old Hampton girl who lives at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children is going to the White House on Monday to take part in the world's most famous Easter Egg Roll.

In February, Carrington's grandfather mailed a handwritten letter to President Obama requesting that Carrington be invited to this year's Easter Egg Roll, a tradition that dates back to 1878. He included some photos of his granddaughter.

A few days ago, he received a call from the White House and an email letting him know that three tickets have been reserved for him, his granddaughter and his daughter (Carrington's mother). The proud grandpa flew from San Francisco to Virginia so the three of them could drive up to Washington, D.C., this weekend.

The Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn is the largest public event at the White House each year, with 30,000 people from across the country expected to attend. For more information about the Easter Egg Roll, click here.

Sports Center

2010-04-04T14:20:00.000-04:00

Friday was a different kind of casual day at St. Mary's Home. SECEP's Spirit Week at St. Mary's Home finished up with Sports Day, a chance for SECEP and St. Mary's staff to show off jerseys and T-shirts from their favorite teams/schools/athletes:

Carmen Gerena, executive assistant to the CEO

Danielle Hunn, SECEP liaison

Karen Roberson and Vette Muriel, teaching assistants

Teaching assistant Lauryn Harris, teacher Kim Curll, teaching assistant G. Reed

From left: teaching assistant Josie Eberhardt, teaching assistant Denise Boone, teacher Gay James-Parson and teaching assistants Carmen Perry, Nichold Price, Concetta Pisa and Adriana Gibbs

Reelin' in the Years

2010-04-01T11:26:00.001-04:00

Today was Blast from the Past Day, part of SECEP's continuing Spirit Week. Folks at St. Mary's Home reached into the back of their closets -- in some cases, way back -- to dress up to represent various decades.

The 80s seemed particularly popular:

Tom Dvorak, St. Mary's facilities department

Suzanne Eason, supervisor of occupational therapy support services

In some classrooms, there was a mix of decades:

Teaching assistant Martha Robertson (50s), teaching assistant Nichold Price (70s), teacher Teresa Anderson (70s) and teaching assistant Stephanie Nixon (80s)

And then there was the 40s, as in 1540s:

Larry Phillips, occupational therapy technician

Star Search

2010-03-31T11:40:00.001-04:00

The stars descended upon St. Mary's Home today, as SECEP's Spirit Week continued with Hollywood Day. Throughout the building, people dressed up like their favorite celebrity or movie. A sampling:

Britney Spears (teacher Kelly Messina) and J.Lo (teaching assistant Denise Boone)

Gloria Estefan (teaching assistant Jillian Hernandez), India.Arie (teaching assistant Nichold Price) and Flo from the Progressive Insurance commercials (teaching assistant Adriana Gibbs)

Hannah Montana (teacher Melissa Knightes), with Greg

Marty, the zebra from the "Madagascar" movies (teacher Melinda Gilkey)

Maria from "The Sound of Music" (teaching assistant Donna Spence), Pippi Longstocking (teacher Katie Kaltenbach) and Mary J. Blige (teaching assistant Jean Walker)

The Cat's Pajamas

2010-03-30T15:21:00.000-04:00

SECEP's Spirit Week at St. Mary's Home continues. Today, people got a chance to be really comfortable. It's Pajama Day, as demonstrated above by teaching assistant Carmen Perry, teacher sub Adriana Gibbs and teaching assistant Kimberly Ferebee.

Even principal Terry Lyle showed off her robe and slippers:

Click here to see some of the getups for Crazy Hat Day yesterday. And congratulations to Denise Boone, teaching assistant, who won movie tickets for her fabulous crazy hat.

Mad Hatters

2010-03-29T11:59:00.000-04:00

It's Spirit Week at St. Mary's Home, courtesy of the folks who run the school here, Southeastern Cooperation Educational Programs. As you can tell from the picture above of teaching assistant Denise Boone and Shanyla, the theme for today is crazy hats.

A lot of people are getting in on the act:

Debbie Rhoads, occupational therapy technician

Vicki and Dr. Larry White, neurologist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters

Karen Whitfield, certified nursing assistant

Shirley Justice, active treatment coordinator

St. Mary's Home Chosen as Charity for 2010 Fall Homearama

2010-03-25T14:57:00.001-04:00

TBA President Bill Halprin and Fall Homearama Charity House builder Scott Crumley at the

65th anniversary dinner for St. Mary's Home.

About 300 people who gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate St. Mary's 65 years of comfort and caring were the first to hear the news. Bill Halprin, president of Tidewaters Builders Association, officially announced that St. Mary's Home will benefit from proceeds from the 2010 Fall Homearama Charity House in Norfolk's East Beach Community.

"We are proud that our Fall Homearama Charity House will help some of our most vulnerable children by giving them a place to call home, where their families can feel secure in knowing their medical and emotional needs will be addressed," Halprin said.

Also on hand for the announcement was Scott Crumley, president of The Crumley Group, Inc., who has volunteered to build the Charity House. The company will need contributions of materials and services to the home.

Click here to read a news release about the announcement.

Celebrating 65 Years of Caring for Children in Need

2010-03-19T16:03:00.001-04:00

St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children has been caring for Virginia children in need for 65 years. In recognition of this history, we will present an anniversary dinner on Wednesday, March 24, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.

More than 260 friends, supporters, trustees, current and former staff and current and former families, as well as people who were adopted from the old St. Mary's Infant Home, are expected to attend. Keynote speaker Fern Kupfer (that's her in the photo) will talk about raising a child with disabilities, as captured in her poignant memoir, Before and After Zachariah (book signing to follow). There also will be a special announcement.

If you'd like to join us, contact Mary Helen Hilton, or check our website for more details. We'd love to see you there.

Words Matter: Take the Pledge

2010-03-03T16:15:00.000-05:00

Lauryn Harris and Nichole Hayes know how painful it is to hear people toss around derogatory slang terms like "retarded" and "retard." Their little brother lived at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children, which cares for children and young adults with severe physical and intellectual disabilities.

So they took the pledge. Have you?

Today is End the R-Word Day, part of Spread the Word to End the Word, an ongoing campaign by Special Olympics and Best Buddies International to raise awareness about the hurtful effects of the "r-word" and encourage people to pledge to stop using it.

To call attention to the cause, Lauryn and Nichole proudly wore their "Spread the Word to End the Word" T-shirts to work today. They, and their mother, Mary Harris, all work at t. Mary's Home as teaching assistants, through Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs (SECEP).

That's Lauryn at left in the photo and Nichole at right, with their mom in the middle.(Mom's T-shirt was on back order, but she made sure to wear her "I Pledged" sticker.)

For more information, and to take the pledge, click here.

"Everybody Likes to Give"

2010-03-01T13:43:00.000-05:00

Many generous people across the nation have donated money to help Haiti recover from the earthquake in January. At St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk, employees recently took up a collection and raised $1,705 to send to the Daughters of Wisdom to use for their Haiti relief efforts.

St. Mary's Home has had a special connection to the religious order for most of its 65-year-history. Nuns from the Daughters of Wisdom arrived at the Home in 1946 to take charge. Today, the sole nun still on the staff, Sister Mary June Morin, is starting her 51st year of working at St. Mary's.

So, when news came that six Daughters had been killed in the earthquake, St. Mary's staff was especially moved to help. The money raised by employees includes $450 from a Valentine's goodie sale/baked goods raffle organized by the Nurses Environmental Committee, which focuses on building camaraderie among the staff. The photo shows committee members Janie Mines, left, and Susan Kok, right, among the carnations and boxes full of Hershey's Kisses that were for sale. The committee also raffled off (mostly) homemade baked goods.

You can read more about the committee's work here, in a column about charitable giving by Mike Gruss of The Virginian-Pilot. Susan Kok told Gruss that she never worried the chocolates, carnations and cakes wouldn't sell: "Everybody likes to give. Everybody likes to get something."

St. Mary's 5K Promo Wins Gold ADDY Award

2010-03-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

Many congratulations to the talented, creative and generous team of Regent University students who put together a video promo for St. Mary's 5K fundraiser last fall. On Saturday, the group received a student gold ADDY award in the television category from the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Advertising Federation. Kudos to April Campion, the writer-producer-director, and the rest of her team, including Jeffrey A. Dear, the director of photography, and editor Tony Cece.

Watch the award-winning video:

Cookie Season is Here

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-05:00

The Girl Scouts of Troop #5067 at St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children sure are smart cookies.

They stationed themselves near the employee time clock this afternoon, and on pay day no less. One Scout, Victoria, hit a switch on her voice output device to tell passersby, "Don't leave before buying any Girl Scout cookies."

Staff and other visitors were powerless to resist the pull of the Scouts' Thin Mints, Lemon Chalet Cremes and Tagalongs.

The Girl Scouts will be back in place tomorrow afternoon.

Supporter Spotlight: Bob Guess, Boat Builder

2010-02-15T11:57:00.000-05:00

Bob Guess has been fascinated by the craft of boat-building since he was a child playing among the cedar shavings in his grandfather’s shop. Among the many unique items you can bid on during an auction this Saturday to benefit the children of St. Mary's Home will be two ships’ models and two children’s play boats built and donated by Guess. Click here for more information about the auction.

Check out this short video to learn more about Guess's interesting hobby and why he supports St. Mary's Home:

"New" St. Mary's Home Turns 5 Today

2010-02-11T10:39:00.001-05:00

While St. Mary's Home is celebrating its 65th anniversary throughout this year, we're celebrating another milestone today: The five-year anniversary of the move into our current building. Our dream Home, if you will.

St. Mary's Home had been in downtown Norfolk for 60 years, first opening in a century-old building in December of 1944 and then moving into a new building in the 1960s. By 2005, a new Home was sorely needed.

"What a blessing the new Home has been to our children, their families and our staff," said CEO William C. Giermak. At 88,000 square feet, the new Home offers twice the room of the previous building. Since moving to the new Home, the children have spent 25 percent fewer days out at the hospital. The excellent care and caring they receive at St. Mary's is key, but the bright and beautiful building with more space and the latest systems also contributes to that care, Giermak said.

Preparations for the move into the state-of-the-art building near Sentara Leigh Hospital began months before the big day. Staff talked with the children and young adults of St. Mary's, sharing photos, reading stories about moving and involving the children in packing their belongings.

On Feb. 11, 2005, the first children were ready to move at 6 a.m. Two paramedic crews from Norfolk moved 10 of the children, while other children moved in vans and school buses. A welcoming committe cheered, clapped and called each child by name as he or she entered the new Home.

The new Home was formally dedicated on March 18, 2005, with then-Gov. Mark R. Warner giving the keynote speech.

Go, Kishaun, Go

2010-02-01T15:30:00.001-05:00

Kishaun really loves to move.

Once seated on an adaptive tricyle, 10-year-old Kishuan zooms up and down the corridors of St. Mary's Home so quickly that his therapists sometimes have trouble keeping up with him.

Like most of the children who live at the Home, Kishaun uses a wheelchair. He also can walk, with assistance, for short distances. Pedaling on the tricycle helps him walk by warming up his legs and strengthening his muscles -- all while he's having a blast.

"Kishaun just wants his independence," said physical therapist assistant Lynn Regna. "The trike is a way for him to just go."

Kishaun is one of about 15 children at St. Mary's who now regularly ride a tricycle as part of their physical therapy. The seats and handlebars are easy to configure to give each child a comfortable ride. While the child grips the bars and pedals, a therapist uses controls on the back to steer.

Through the generosity of supporters, the Auxiliary Board of St. Mary's Home was able to donate funds for the Home to buy two of these tricycles.

The Auxiliary's 5th Annual Gala and Auction to raise money for the children of St. Mary's Home will take place Saturday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. at The Westin Town Center in Virginia Beach. To reserve tickets, donate, volunteer or request sponsorship information, contact Karen Hibbard at (757) 622-2208 ext. 331 or send her an email.

Gotta Dance

2010-01-28T16:35:00.003-05:00

Carrington doesn't use her right hand very often. She mostly relies on her left hand to reach out or pick things up. But today was different.

She smiled, gleefully shouted "Yeah" a few times and waved her right hand in front of her as she watched the Silver Tappers twirl, kick and shuffle across St. Mary's Atrium.

The other children, plus teachers and staff, who filled the Atrium were equally delighted.

The Silver Tappers is a nonprofit dance company made up of women age 50 and older. Directed by Rita Joyner of Virginia Beach, the women have been taking dance class together for several years.They donate their time and talent to help charitable organizations.

The group has a total of 15 members. Nine women, including Joyner, performed today at St. Mary's. Their average age? 70.

Carrington meets Rita Joyner, director of The Silver Tappers, as Terry Lyle, principal of the school at St. Mary's, looks on.

Have Fun for a Good Cause

2010-01-26T16:58:00.006-05:00

Scenes from the 2009 auction: At left, Trustee Kim Thumel (center) with Doug Henkel and his wife, Toni Henkel, who created purses for bid at the auction. At right, Auxiliary President Karen Hibbard holds a painting up for bid.

Karen Hibbard, president of St. Mary's Auxiliary Board, and Mary Helen Hilton, St. Mary's director of annual giving, recently taped a great interview for "Norfolk Perspectives," the city of Norfolk's community affairs program. They discussed the Auxiliary's auction and gal coming up on Feb. 20 at The Westin-Town Center to benefit the children and young adults of St. Mary's Home. The episode will run at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily on Norfolk cable channel 48 from Jan. 31-Feb. 6. But you can watch it online now here.

For more information about the auction, see our website or call 757.622.2208 ext. 381.

Helping Haiti

2010-01-21T11:41:00.000-05:00

(Undated St. Mary's file photo.)

Among the many sad stories coming out of Haiti is the news that six sisters of the Daughters of Wisdom were caught in the rubble. Three were killed; the others are not believed to have survived.

St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children in Norfolk has had a special connection to the Daughters, a congregation of Catholic religious women, for most of our 65-year-history. About a year after the Home opened in December 1944, a group of sisters from the order arrived from New York state to manage the residence. The last remaining nun at the Home, Sister Mary June Morin, is celebrating 50 years of service at St. Mary's.

To learn more about the Daughters of Wisdom and the wonderful work they do in Haiti and elsewhere, please visit their website. There, you also can make a donation to help earthquake victims through the Daughters' emergency relief fund. Click on the "You Can Help" link, then choose "donate online." Next to "Use this gift for," click "other" and type in: "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund."

In the Media: Tidewater Women Features St. Mary's Home, Auxiliary

2010-01-06T13:06:00.002-05:00

The January issue of Tidewater Women includes a feature about St. Mary's Home, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary, and St. Mary's Auxiliary Board, which will hold a fundraiser auction next month. You can read the article online by going to the magazine's website and clicking on the photo of the cover to open a PDF of the issue. The article about St. Mary's is on page 15.

St. Mary's Auxiliary Board's 5th Annual Gala and Auction will take place Saturday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at The Westin Town Center in Virginia Beach. To reserve tickets, donate, volunteer or request sponsorship information, contact Karen Hibbard at (757) 622-2208 ext. 331 or send her an email.

In this photo taken for the magazine, Sister Mary June Morin of St. Mary's Home (right) listens as Nancy Wilcox of St. Mary's Auxiliary reads to Ashley in St. Mary's library.

Donor Spotlight: The Mermaids Meet the Mermaid

2010-01-05T15:40:00.005-05:00

The Ocean View Mermaids pose with Mary Helen Hilton, St. Mary's director of annual giving, fourth from left, next to St. Mary's new mermaid statue.

For two years in a row, the Ocean View Women's Golf Association has supported St. Mary's Home by, naturally, golfing. More than 100 people took part in the group's golf tournament last summer, and the association recently donated $2,500 from the proceeds to the Home. During a visit to St. Mary's, members of the group -- who call themselves the "Ocean View Mermaids" -- posed with St. Mary's new mermaid statue.

St. Mary's Own Elf

2009-12-21T00:38:00.006-05:00

(bottom photo by Weyo)

The hall outside the Occupational Therapy Support Services Department at St. Mary's Home is decorated like Santa's Workshop. Inside the department, technician Mamie McCloud is busy as one of Santa's elves, especially at this time of year. She adapts toys so children with severe disabilities can use them. With an array of tools, she deftly replaces small switches with large buttons that are easier for the children to push to make toys dance or play music.

Mamie is profiled today in a nice feature in The Virginian-Pilot newspaper of Norfolk; you can read the story here.

Be sure to check out the accompanying video, which features Mamie and Suzanne Eason, who supervises OT support services, as well as Ashley and Carrington, two of the children of St. Mary's Home:

Someday at Christmas ...

2009-12-18T13:12:00.011-05:00

There are many longstanding holiday traditions at St. Mary's Home, and one of the favorites has come to be the annual visit by the singing group of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Norfolk District.

District employees donated gifts to the nearly 90 children and young adults of the Home through the district's Angel Tree event. The district's singing group then delivered the gifts to the Home on Thursday, Dec. 17, and also sang holiday songs to the children and staff.

"Christmas isn't Christmas until they come here," Shirley Parham, a member of St. Mary's activities staff, said as she introduced the singers.

District commander Col. Andrew Backus with Shirley Parham of St. Mary's activities staff and Aly.

The performance delighted and touched both the children and staff of the Home.

Everyone gathered eagerly anticipated what staff here refer to as the "special Christmas song" the group performs every year: Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas." A sample of the lyrics:

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears

All men are equal and no men have fears

One shinning moment my heart ran away

From our world today.

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime.

Santa Visits St. Mary's Home

2009-12-15T13:25:00.007-05:00

Santa and Laquesha.

The sound of bells jingling as he walked down the halls gave him away.

The children of St. Mary's Home knew there was a very important person in the building. Santa visited several classrooms to chat with the children and spread some holiday cheer.

Santa is Ross Wilkins, a database programmer for technology and defense contractor SAIC. Wilkins and several colleagues, including St. Mary's Trustee Carl M. Albero, dropped off presents for the children and a gift package for the staff.

This was Wilkins' second December in a row touring St. Mary's while dressed up as Santa. And yes, the beard is real.

NATO Officers Donate to St. Mary's Home

2009-12-11T12:37:00.005-05:00

Allied Command Chief of Staff Royal Navy Vice Adm. Robert Cooling, Wayne Buck and Dan Berry present a donation check to William C. Giermak and Mary Helen Hilton from St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children. (From left – Buck, Giermak, Hilton, Cooling, Berry). Photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Chris Steffen.

CEO William C. Giermak and Director of Annual Giving Mary Helen Hilton recently attended the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation’s officers’ staff mess on Norfolk Naval Base. Chief of Staff Royal Navy Vice Adm. Robert Cooling presented St. Mary’s Home with $1,000 on behalf of officers from NATO.

You can read more about this generous contribution, as well as donations the officers made to other charities, here.

St. Mary's Snapshot

2009-12-10T14:00:00.002-05:00

Crystle and Kristine Cameron, a certified nursing assistant, exchange smiles. (photo by Wéyo.)

Walk around St. Mary's Home and at any given time, you'll stumble upon sweet moments like this.

65 Years of Comfort & Caring

2009-12-08T11:55:00.005-05:00

Sisters of the Daughters of Wisdom feed children during an evening meal. (1946 file photo)

The world was at war when a downtown Norfolk building that already had served children for more than a century as a school for girls was re-dedicated on Dec. 8, 1944, for a new purpose. “St. Mary’s Infant Home will provide shelter for the little boys and girls who cannot find it elsewhere,” Bishop Peter I. Ireton, co-adjutor bishop of Richmond, said during the ceremony, according to news accounts.

At first, St. Mary’s was a home for young children with no homes of their own or who needed a temporary place to stay while their mothers worked in war plants. The Daughters of Wisdom arrived at the Home to begin taking care of the children in 1946.

Over the years, the Home evolved into a home for children and young adults with severe disabilities, changing its name and moving into a new facility in the 1960s and then into its current, state-of-the-art building in 2005. Starting in December 2009 and continuing throughout 2010, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children will be celebrating its 65^th anniversary in a number of ways, including vintage-themed holiday decorations, displays of historical items, billboard advertisements in the Norfolk area and an anniversary dinner on March 24, 2010. Be sure to keep checking our website and our newsletter, Guardian, for details – and thank you for supporting the children and young adults who call St. Mary’s “home.”

Give a Gift That Does Good

2009-11-23T15:08:00.004-05:00

The children's book sponsored by St. Mary’s Home -- "There Goes a Mermaid! A NorFolktale" -- is featured prominently in a “Nonprofit Gift Guide” published this week in Inside Business. The guide lists items that local nonprofits are selling for the holidays.

The printed guide includes a huge photo of the book’s cover. You can check out an online version of the guide, without photos, here.

Please pass along to friends, families and supporters who may be looking for ideas for gifts that do some good.

The book is $10, with author Lisa Suhay donating part of the proceeds to St. Mary's Home and to The Joy Fund, which helps needy families at the holidays. To order the book, contact Suhay at Lsuhays2@cox.net or 757.575.4424. Thank you.

Veterans Day: St. Mary's Home Proud to Serve Families Who Serve Our Nation

2009-11-11T15:36:00.007-05:00

(Photo by Wéyo.)

Senior Master Sgt. John Borden Jr. was at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea when his daughter, who lives at St. Mary's Home in Norfolk, went to the prom for the first time. But he still got to see the broad smile on Aly's face as a DJ played dance music in St. Mary's Atrium because Aly was in a video of the prom that was posted online.

St. Mary's Home serves military families like Aly's through the U.S. Armed Forces' Exceptional Family Member Program.You can read more about Aly and her family here, in the Military Newspapers of Virginia's special section about the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign to raise money for nonprofits.

Happy Hauntings at St. Mary's Home

2009-10-31T14:59:00.009-04:00

Folks at St. Mary's Home tend to take holidays very, very seriously, and Halloween is no exception. This year, the celebration on "Spooky Friday" was bigger than ever, filled with fun and educational activities.

Staff competed -- fiercely -- in a contest to decorate all four of the children's living areas, turning the neighborhoods into a 50s diner, a haunted house, Alice's Wonderland and Oz, complete with a yellow brick road.

Children, staff and teachers dressed up in costumes and paraded about the Home, an annual tradition organized by SECEP. St. Mary's Home partners with Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs to provide individualized education programs for residents. SECEP’s REACH (Raising Expectations and Abilities for Children with Complex Health needs) Program offers educational services to students with severe to profound disabilities who live at St. Mary’s Home.

Also Friday, children took part in sensory activities, such as carving pumpkins and touching "guts" that just may have been spaghetti, with help from St. Mary's evening activities staff.

New this year: Children used adaptive switches to plug into SECEP’s Spooky Room so they could independently activate games, lights and a slideshow with spooky pictures and sounds.

WVEC-TV, Norfolk's ABC affiliate, covered some of the goings-on. Victoria asked reporter Joe Flanagan to pose with her for a photo, and he graciously obliged.

Free Workshops: Experiencing Trauma in Childhood

2009-10-27T09:42:00.003-04:00

Old Dominion University is hosting a free, three-part series of workshops on "Experiencing Trauma in Childhood: Personal and Social Effects and What Individuals and Communities Can Do to Prevent It and Help Those Who Suffer."

Part One is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and features Dr. Judith L. Herman, author of the book "Trauma and Recovery" and clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. The live video conference will take place 7-8:30 p.m. in the Hampton/Newport News Room at ODU's Webb Center.

Dr. John Briere will speak at the second workshop, on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Hampton/Newport News Room at the Webb Center. Briere is an associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Wrapping up the series, Dr. Bruce Perry will speak on Wednesday, March 3, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Webb Center's North Cafeteria. Perry is a senior fellow at the Child Trauma Academy and author of "The Boy Who Grew Up as a Dog: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us about Loss, Love and Healing."

The series is sponsored by In Support of Children, a nonprofit student service organization at ODU; Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters; Prevent Child Abuse Hampton Roads; and Kohl's.

And Here She Is

2009-10-26T14:18:00.007-04:00

As residents, staff, Board members, Auxiliary Board members and other supporters gathered outside St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children this afternoon, a vehicle appeared in the distance.

Ron Herrick and Tom Dvorak from St. Mary's maintenance department carefully removed the precious cargo from the trailer, then helped artist Georgia Mason unwrap her creation: a mermaid for the children and young adults of SMHDC.

The mermaid was unveiled Saturday at St. Mary's donor reception off site. Mason then delivered her to St. Mary's today. The mermaid statue will be permanently installed just outside the front entrance of the building, for residents and visitors to enjoy.

St. Mary's Mermaid Unveiled

2009-10-25T12:53:00.001-04:00

A mermaid created for the children of St. Mary's Home for Disabled Children made her debut Saturday at St. Mary's donor reception. The mermaid will arrive at the Home on Monday at 1 p.m.