Annual Children's Choice
Award Dinner Honors Three

Last March, Saint Vincent's Day Home celebrated its 85th year of caring for children and their families with a dinner at the Oakland Lakeview Club. The occasion also recognized the 1996 recipients of the Children's Choice Award. This year, three recipients were singled out for their exceptional service to families, children, and the Day Home.

Vivian Mack O'Neal, Esq., was honored for her service as the Day Home's legal advisor, former social worker, and stalwart friend. "For me, joining the board at Saint Vincent's was simply a way of giving something back to the community, " Vivian said.

Frank M. Mele was recognized for the vision, business acumen, and counsel he has provided to the Day Home for more than two decades. Frank commented, "This evening is very special, as it gives me an opportunity to honor the wonderful work and commitment of the Day Home stall and to thank my family for their unfailing support of me and my community endeavors."

Fern Tiger was chosen because of the talent and energy she has displayed in focusing public attention on the needs of families and children throughout California. III accepting the award, Fern said. "Over the past 10 years, I have had the opportunity to visit literally hundreds of facilities that care for children.

My report to you is that Saint Vincent's is all too rare in a society such as ours. Saint Vincent's represents the ability to make a difference, not just in the life of a child but in the life of a whole family."

The event raised $22,600 to help Saint Vincent's Day Home continue to make a difference in children's lives. Very special thanks to dinner chairs Wilma Germany, Terry Wilson-Gray and Marcia Carter, who made the event a fantastic evening.

Kids Corner

August found the Teddy Bears learning to make nutritious snacks such as tortillas and peanut butter. These activities helped the children improve their small motor skills. Exploring health and safety, they set up a grocery store where they chose healthy foods and paid for them with play money. Other children served as clerks who rang up the totals and bagged the groceries.

The Pre-Kindergarten class began the month ofNovember by looking at patterns. The children quickly discovered patterns are all around us, finding them in and outside the classroom. They saw patterns in their clothes and created patterns at the art table. The exercise heightened their visual accuity and prepared children to look for patterns in words and numbers.

In August, the Pre-Kindergarten children explored many things. They watched fruit change from plums to prunes and grapes to raisins. The children talked about differences among people and the beauty in each of us. Using nursery rhymes, the children explored the many ways we use words as they performed nursery rhyme plays.

Math Award Winner

Danielle Potts, a Saint Vincent's Day Home graduate, was the winner of a gold medal in the Holy Name College Math Olympics held during the 1995-96 school year. She competed against students from four Catholic schools.