St. Anthony’s staff and volunteers joined hundreds of supporters at MoMo’s Restaurant on Monday, June 11th to toss pennies for the 35th annual Penny Pitch to benefit St. Anthony’s Dining Room. This year, the Penny Pitch broke a 35 year fundraising record, raising over $72,000! Proceeds from this event will translate into over 144,000 meals for hungry and homeless San Franciscans.

Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, Police Chief Greg Suhr, and President of the Giants Larry Baer tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. KNBR radio hosts Murph and Mac, along with Bay Area comedian Bob Sarlatte, kept the crowd energized as the competition unfolded.

Shari Roeseler, St. Anthony’s Executive Director remarked, “For 62 years, the business community has stepped up to the plate for St. Anthony’s. For over half of those years, leaders in the community have organized the Penny Pitch to throw change and change lives. We couldn’t do the work we do without the steady support of people like Pete and Janet Osborne and the late Ed Moose.”

St. Anthony’s is grateful to have community partners like MoMo’s along with widespread community support for events like the Penny Pitch. Join us next year as we pitch pennies to change lives!

For more information about the Penny Pitch please visit the photo album on our Facebook page.

Click here to see KTVU’s coverage of the 35th Annual Penny Pitch to benefit St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

Last Friday, a group of 100 from  St. Anthony’s  enjoyed a night out at the ballpark with the San Francisco Giants. We watched as our Executive Director and other representatives from our staff and board joined with Cy Young Award winner and three-time all-star Barry Zito for a special home plate ceremony before the game.  The purpose of the ceremony was to publicize St. Anthony Foundation’s campaign to build the new St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

The sight of a large group from St. Anthony’s at a Giants game, clad in our trademark teal t-shirts with our Giants black and orange is quite a sight to behold.  For Victor, a churro vendor who was working our section in the bleachers, we were a welcome reminder of an organization that helped him through a tough time in his life.  As soon as Victor saw us, he said, “Hey St. Anthony’s!  I love St. Anthony’s!  You guys saved my life!”

Victor had come to the drop-in hours at our Social Work Center, where he was able to get information about other services that could help him get back on his feet. He also ate in our Dining Room and received clothing from our Free Clothing Program.  It was great to see that Victor was back on his feet and happy, with a wonderful job at AT&T park, home of the 2010 World Champion San Francisco Giants!

Every time we saw Victor that night, we gave him a big round of applause and he gave us an “I love you guys”.

Our interaction with Victor reminded me of what San Francisco Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer said at our capital campaign kickoff: “the most important intersection in San Francisco is Golden Gate and Jones”.  For Victor, I think that Golden Gate and Jones may just tie with 3rd and King as two of the most important intersections in town.  It’s really true: Together we are Giant!

The Giants and famed pitcher Barry Zito have stepped up to the plate to help build the new St. Anthony’s Dining Room. In addition to two generous gifts, the Giants will feature St. Anthony’s in a Home Plate Ceremony at AT&T park.  Larry Baer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Giants, kicked off the public phase of our campaign by proclaiming that “Jones and Golden Gate is the most important intersection in the city.”

Barry Zito will also reach out to San Franciscans via radio asking for help to make the new Dining Room possible. As we enter the home stretch of our campaign, we’re proud to have the 2010 World Series champions at bat for us.  Join St. Anthony’s and the Giants in striking out hunger.

Click HERE to donate.

A standing ovation from  guests and volunteers marked the final meal served from St. Anthony’s original Dining Room last Wednesday, February 1^st.   The San Francisco community rose to the occasion to mark this historic event.  Guests shared stories of life-saving moments they had experienced within these walls.  Volunteers described relationships they had formed in the Dining Room that allowed them to rediscover their faith in making the world a better place.

Mayor Ed Lee recognized St. Anthony’s as a pillar of hope and compassion in San Francisco, and Larry Baer, the President of the Giants, punctuated the significance of the day by stating, “People say that 3^rd and King [home of the San Francisco Giants at AT & T Park] is the most important intersection in San Francisco. I’ve got to say Jones and Golden Gate is the most important intersection in the city of San Francisco.”

For nearly 62 years, the words of our Founder Fr. Alfred Boeddeker have graced people as they enter St. Anthony’s original Dining Room:  “I see God as one act:  Loving like the sun always shining.”  These words, no less important today as they were on October 4^th, 1950, shone through the smiles and tears of all of us who insure The Miracle on Jones Street continues.