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 Alvernia College was honored with the Guardian Award, presented by Mary’s Shelter, Inc.
The award honors an individual or organization providing extraordinary support for the young women served by Mary’s Shelter. Alvernia College was cited for its educational outreach to the young women served by Mary’s Shelter (located on South 12th Street in Reading) and Mary’s Home (located on Upland Avenue near the Alvernia College campus). Alvernia College President Dr. Thomas F. Flynn accepted the award for the college.
Mary's Shelter, which opened in 1995, provides a residential care home for pregnant teens and women who are in need of a supportive environment because of a lack of suitable housing or favorable family relationships. Mary’s Home has provided care to young mothers and their newborns since its opening in 2000.
According to Mary’s Shelter Administrator Chris Folk, Alvernia College has been involved with the organization since 1997 through internships, service learning projects and community service activities.
When Mary’s Home, former Alvernia President Dr. Laurence Mazzeno approached Folk expressing an interest on the part of the Alvernia administration and Board of trustees to assist residents in earning a degree and becoming self-sufficient. Folk remembered Dr. Mazzeno’s words that “Our hope is to spark the interest of these courageous young women who may have been dreaming about college but who might think that they must shelve their goals – or maybe even abandon them.” Mazzeno saw this partnership as a natural fit with both Alvernia’s educational mission its Catholic and Franciscan heriatge. This past May, the first two Mary’s Home residents were among the members of the Alvernia College Class of 2006. One of those graduates prepared a special award which was also presented to Dr. Flynn by the current residents of Mary’s Shelter and Mary’s Home.
In addition, to the Guardian Award, Alvernia received a proclamation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. State Senator Michael O’Pake, reading from the document, noted, “it was only natural that Mary’s Shelter and Alvernia College would become partners in education. Both organizations are founded on a philosophy of caring for individuals and providing opportunities for personal growth. Education is a life long process. We are all mentors, counselors, instructors and students – teaching and learning something new each day of our lives.
For more information about Alvernia College, call (888) ALVERNIA.
Updated:
January 10, 2007
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