Sojourner’s Truth Staff
The Padua Center held its annual fundraiser – “Peaces” of Art – on Sunday, October 13, at the Sullivan Center at Gesu Parish with a banquet, a silent and live auction and a celebration honoring some key contributors to the Padua Center mission and also 20 years of empowering children and adults to make a better world.
The evening began with a welcome from Terry Crosby and Sara Winfield, who served as the master and mistress of ceremonies then a silent auction of dozens of pieces of art, household items and events. The Padua Center children contributed a number of pieces of art for the live auction that followed.
After the successful bidders were announced, guests heard testimonies by Padua stars: Shelby Galloway, Sara Taite-Trail Winfield, Anastie and Riley Davis and former directors Terry Crosby and Anique Davis.
The Padua Center began its work in 2006 when Father Michael Billian (later Monsignor Billian) invited Sister Virginia Welsh to start the program in St. Anthony Church which had been closed and abandoned. He has continued to ensure that the Center is supported and funded by the Diocese of Toledo over the years.
Sister Virginia Welsh still serves as executive director; Kim McFann as administrative assistant; Alicia Murphy as NIA educational director; Kasey Rupp-Scott as gardener; Annette Hannibl, Florence McClendon and Jackie Blueitt as Kwanzaa Park Neighbors facilitators and Kathy Kirby as art teacher. Dennis Jarrett is the board chair of “Peaces” of Art for St. Martin de Porres Parish.
The Padua Center is part of the St. Martin de Porres Parish.
