2019
Grace and Gratitude
I originally added this page on Thanksgiving of 2018 to acknowledge the help I received getting Foley Physical Therapy established and thriving. That support allowed me to pay it forward to local charitable organizations doing
great things in Pittsburgh.
Since then patient referrals of friends and family remain my number one referral source and as a result I am proud to be in a position to continue supporting local Pittsburgh foundations and causes in 2019.
I look forward to announcing other exciting ways Foley Physical Therapy is growing in 2020.
This Thanksgiving donations have been made to the following organizations
and specifically in honor of two formidable women who have inspired me.
The Jubilee Soup Kitchen
has been in operation since 1979 under the direction of Sister Liguori Rossner. Sister was my grade school teacher at
St. Bartholomew’s in Penn Hills. Sister died earlier this month, she was a tour de force, with space not a lack of words, limiting elaboration. A favorite memory, of many, is from grade school and is of the one thousand origami cranes we made at her direction in 8th grade. I don’t recall previously learning much about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima or Nagasaki but as we spent afternoons quietly folding paper I learned about the peace crane, the little girl who started what became a movement and my own thoughts about responsibility
and caring for other human beings.
A donation to honor the teacher and her indefatigable spirit has been made to
The Jubilee Soup Kitchen in honor of Sister Liguori.
At one of the most interactive and diverse memorial services I have ever been to I discovered the legacy of a graceful and modest woman I thought I knew. In this age of self promotion was a woman who quietly and also vociferously led marches in the 60s and since; supported financially and with grassroots work many a candidate and cause; and persistently steered future leaders to find themselves and their voices to speak for others. Always debating my “theories about her health”, but nevertheless doing exactly what I suggested, she was an ardent supporter of mine, and offered solid advice and great laughs. The speakers and videos were as funny as they were eye opening and heart breaking. I wish I'd known to ask her more about all of the landmark events she was involved in.
A donation has been made to the Thomas Merton Center in honor of the inspirational vision of Jan Neffke.
Foley Physical Therapy continues to proudly support The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. The real work of physical therapy and care in general is done by the clinicians, educators and staff at The Children’s Institute. Kids and their families always come first regardless of their ability to pay. This unburdens many families struggling with the gravity of special needs care and also allows these kids and young adults peer to peer connection, counseling, education and nationally recognized healthcare care. A donation has been made The Children’s Institute Uncompensated Care Fund on behalf of all of the Pittsburgh families (and others) who rely on those services.
Thank you All so very much.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Cover photo of Heavenly Bodies, Fashion and the Catholic Imagination; Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018; courtesy DCC Foley