Celebrating the 12th Annual Setting a Place for My Sister Breakfast
October 3, 2008, at Marriott Pittsburgh City Center

The room is in readiness: from the flower bedecked breakfast tables . . .

to the enticing display of raffle packages.

And as Sally Wiggins observes, "Who'd ever have thought that a basket full of gasoline gifts cards would be as or more attractive than a Steelers package?"

The ballroom is soon filled with the friends of Sisters Place.

The Most Reverend David A. Zubik, Bishop of PIttsburgh, offers the invocation,

following which Board President Ellen Rufft, CDP, and Executive Director Mary Parks, CSJ, extend warm greetings and heartfelt thanks to all present.

 

This year's Community Partner Award is presented to Brunner in recognition of its long-time support of Sisters Place .

Mary Kay Modaffari, Managing Director-Brunner Pittsburgh, accepts the award, which honors those who in so many ways have helped make a difference in the lives of the homeless families Sisters Place serves.

Sally Wiggin emcees the program with grace and good humor, to both of which the audience responds, particularly when she spots a spider making itself at home on the microphone. The spider keeps her company for some time, eventually moving on to more suitable real estate.

Once again the children of Sisters Place take the stage to sing and dance to a song that is the very story of mothers and sons and daughters who find in Sisters Place support in the remaking of their lives: Johnny Nash's I Can See Clearly Now . . .

". . . the rain is gone, I can see all the obstacles in my way, . . . the pain is gone . . .the bad feelings have gone away"

"It's gonna be a bright . . . sunshiny day "

". . . the rain is gone, I can see all the obstacles in my way, . . . the pain is gone . . .the bad feelings have gone away"

The poignancy of the story shared by a Sisters Place mother – a story, bravely told, of God-given courage and inner strength – brings tears to listeners' eyes as they celebrate with joy this woman's re-creation of herself, her life, and a stable home for her two children.