It’s time to celebrate with the annual Saint Vincent’s Day Home Children’s Choice Awards Dinner. This year’s dinner, on Friday, March 14, honors three people who’ve given so much to the Day Home over the years: Hon. Martin Jenkins, Bishop O’Dowd Math Teacher Kathleen Riley and our own Director of Family Services Carmen Baires.
Justice Martin J. Jenkins currently serves as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three. Justice Jenkins previously served as a judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of California. He also sat on the Alameda County Superior Court where he was the presiding judge of the Juvenile Court.
Justice Jenkins graduated from Santa Clara University and after a brief football career with the Seattle Seahawks, entered law school. He obtained his law degree from the University of San Francisco and upon graduation was the recipient of the “Judge Harold J. Haley Award for exceptional distinction in scholarship, character and activities.”
A native San Franciscan, Justice Jenkins attended Saint Francis Day Home as a child. Currently, Jenkins is involved in numerous civic, religious and charitable organizations serving youth in the San Francisco Bay area. He has been a devoted and consistent supporter to Saint Vincent’s Day Home since 1991.
Kathleen Riley has taught mathematics for 28 years; 10 in middle school and the last 18 at Bishop O’Dowd High School. She is a graduate of Holy Names University. Teaching has always been her passion.
A committed educator, mentor and tutor, Kathleen believes mathematics is especially important as it develops analytic abilities and provides essential grounding for the sciences. When she is not teaching, she is volunteering at the Day Home or mixing gin fizzes at our annual brunch. Kathleen enjoys reading, swimming and sewing.
Carmen Baires was born in El Salvador and emigrated to the United States as a single mom to escape the Civil War that took her husband’s life. In 1988, Carmen came to the Day Home searching for services for her three children so she could seek employment. The Day Home was in need of a housekeeper and Carmen was hired. Her tremendous potential became apparent as she willingly volunteered for various tasks around the Day Home. Eventually she became the receptionist, hoping her English was “good enough.” Carmen was next promoted to the position of Family Services Associate, helping non-English families with required paperwork, referrals and parenting workshops conducted at the Day Home. Carmen became Family Services Director in 2005, still helping families, just as the Day Home did for her in 1988. She is the proud mother of five children and the wife of Artimeo Garcia. They reside here in Oakland and are very active in their church and community, living out the hope of “Paying it Forward.”
Won’t you join us for an evening under the “Big Top” at Scott’s Seafood restaurant? Get your tickets online today. Space is limited.
2014 SVDH Children’s Choice Award Dinner
March 14, 2014
Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square, Oakland
6 PM Cocktails
7 PM Dinner
Tickets are just $125.
Do more than attend, be a sponsor of the Children’s Choice Awards Dinner to ensure the evening is a huge success and to ensure Saint Vincent’s Day Home continues to offer superior services to Oakland’s more vulnerable residents, its children. Take a look at the 2014 Children’s Choice Awards Sponsorships Package and then call Cathie Newitt at 510-832-8324 to get started.