Hanna Boys Center changes the lives of at-risk, motivated youth through faith, education and caring, helping them grow into productive members of society.

1. FATHER GREG JOINS HANNA
THE HAWKTURNING HURT INTO HOPE
FALL 2017
Hanna Boys Center recently welcomed Father Gregory
McGivern as its new resident chaplain. We sat down to
hear about his background, experience and role as a
spiritual leader to Hanna’s boys and staff.
How long have you been a priest, and
where have you served?
McGivern: I was born in County Armagh,
Northern Ireland, where I was ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Dromore on June
16, 1985. I earned master’s degrees in both
theology and counseling psychology. I
have worked in different parishes in the
Diocese of San Jose and the Archdiocese
of San Francisco.
My last appointment was Mercy High
School, where I served for the last 11 years.
My areas of responsibility included school
chaplain and counselor, as well as head of
the counseling department. I am a licensed
marriage and family therapist in the state
of California, a certified spiritual director
and a pastoral counselor with a special
interest in the intersection of psychology
and spirituality and their important roles
in mental well-being and recovery. I also
worked with victims of violence during
the Troubles in Northern Ireland through
pastoral outreach and care.
What excites you about the opportunity
at Hanna?
McGivern: I am very excited to join a
community of people who value and
celebrate faith, education and care as the
core values in their support of Hanna boys.
This respect and dignity for the boys at
Hanna were very much in evidence during
my early visits to campus. I was moved
and impressed by the love, care and
commitment by all the staff in their
outreach and support of these young
men. The caliber, determination and
resilience of the young men with whom
I had the opportunity to interact was
likewise truly inspirational in their quest
to turn their lives around and plan for
a better future. I have tremendous
gratitude, as well as excitement, to
be part of a professional, supportive
and caring community where “Turning
Hurt to Hope” are not just words, but a
living reality.
Continued on back coverContinued on inside
FROM THE DESK OF
OUR CEO, BRIAN
Faith. Education. Caring.
These three pillars have been
the hallmarks of the “Hanna
Way” for seven decades, and
they continue to underpin and
direct our work today. But many
people wonder specifically how
they fit together to help boys
turn their lives around. Let me
share a few insights on just how
this works.
First, faith. Hanna was founded
in 1945 by two priests, under the
auspices of the Roman Catholic
Church, and its entire culture is
built on strong Christian values.
Yet today our boys come from
a variety of faith traditions
(only about a third come from
Catholic households) or none
at all. Our goal is to instill in
our boys a useful spirituality—a
practical sense of faith, identity
and community that will serve
and guide them. One they can
use today, but also one they can
build upon as they mature.
Second, education. Because
of what has happened to
them before coming to
Hanna, most of our boys arrive
with unfavorable academic
experiences. Many have either
failed in or been kicked out of
school, often multiple times. But
Archbishop Hanna High School
is different. Our teachers are
specially trained to work with
kids from these backgrounds.

2. “From the day I met him and he took me
in as my guardian back when I was 14,”
says Tallis, “he always said his legacy
would go to boys who didn’t have homes
or who needed care. A place like Hanna.
A place where kids could learn real-life
skills like carpentry—a vocation Jay
dedicated his life’s work to.”
It’s no wonder Smith chose to leave his
legacy to Hanna. Orphaned in the 1930s,
he found himself alone on the streets of
San Francisco by age 13. While not an
original Hanna Boy, he squarely fits the
typical profile. By sheer determination
and grit, Smith made his own way
through life and ended up joining the
Navy in 1944, just in time for the Second
World War.
After the war, Smith moved to San Diego,
where he became a carpentry apprentice
and eventually opened his own
business, the S.B. Mill & Carpentry
Shop. His life was filled with a love of
the sea and woodworking. He soon
purchased a schooner and left his
carpentry shop often to set sail for
Mexico or the coast of Canada.
Somewhat reclusive, Smith amassed
a small fortune through hard work,
prudent spending, smart real estate
investments and keen business
acumen. A lover of the classics, Smith
is remembered by his friends fondly
for his recitation of Charles Edward
Carryl’s 86-line poem, “Robinson
Crusoe’s Story.”
“Jay always told me, ‘A promise made
is a debt unpaid.’ It meant that you
honor your commitments,” says Tallis.
“When boys enroll at Hanna Boys
Center, they write a letter committing
to being there and working out
their challenges, and that’s what
Jay believed in­—honoring your
commitments.”
Legacy gifts like Smith’s are critical to
the continued success of Hanna. They
ensure that Hanna will be able to help
struggling young people for years to
come. We are greatly honored to learn
of the generous support of Legacy
donors like Smith. The gift of his estate
will make a difference in the lives of
many young men in the future. ■
DONOR PROFILE: SPENCER “JAY” SMITH,
95 YEARS OF A LIFE WELL LIVED
“He never let the truth get in the way of a good story,” recalls
Matt Tallis about his lifelong compatriot, friend and mentor,
Spencer “Jay” Smith, who recently passed away and left the
bulk of his estate to Hanna Boys Center.
To learn more about ways to give to
Hanna’s Legacy Society, please contact
Beth Fox at 707.933.2588
or bfox@hannacenter.org.
Our classes are small—usually
8-10 students—so boys get the
individualized attention they need.
And the results bear this out:
Most of our boys see a dramatic
improvement in their grades after
coming to Hanna and—maybe
more remarkably—tell us they
actually enjoy learning, sometimes
for the first time in their life.
And finally, caring. This is perhaps
the single most important
ingredient in Hanna’s secret
sauce. What differentiates many
of our boys from their peers is the
environment in which they grew
up, which typically includes high
levels of adversity or trauma. This
affects how their young brains
develop and, subsequently, how
they relate to the world around
them. But at Hanna, we turn this
equation around. We create an
environment that is consistent,
caring and safe and that allows
our youth to be protected and
nourished. This helps them
rebuild their psyches and begin to
effectively build relationships and
turns their hurt into hope.
Faith. Education. Caring. We call
it the “Hanna Way.” But really it’s
a proven and effective model for
anyone’s life plan, isn’t it?
I hope you enjoy catching up on
what’s new at Hanna in the rest of
this newsletter. In the meantime,
thank you for all you do for
Hanna—we are truly grateful.
God bless you.
Brian Farragher
CEO, Hanna Boys Center
Continued from front page
HOW YOU
CAN HELP
FROM THE DESK OF
OUR CEO, BRIAN

3. Equity, criminal justice and overcoming
adversity were just a few of the
themes surfaced by the Honorable
Troy L. Nunley of the Eastern District
of California at Hanna Institute’s
Professional Breakfast Series.
Attorneys, prosecutors, judges,
educators and child care professionals
gathered to participate in the lively
discussion. Judge Nunley shared
his views as a staunch advocate
for children—especially the most
vulnerable—as well as his rich
personal experience from his judicial
role. He also shared insights about
his personal upbringing, growing up
with a single mother in the Hunter’s
Point neighborhood of San Francisco.
Ultimately, Judge Nunley rose to one of
the highest positions in American law.
“Providing a platform for the community
to network and discuss key social issues
is a critical role for the Hanna Institute,”
says Mary Kelly Persyn, director of
the Hanna Institute. Along with other
professionals—from the courts, health
systems, schools, churches, community
organizations and more—we can
improve the outcomes for young people
who have faced early adversity. We are
honored to provide this kind of value
to our neighbors and partners.”
At Hanna’s next 2017 Professional
Network Breakfast Series on December
14, we will discuss diversity in technology
and digital media with Villy Wang, CEO
and founder of BAYCAT in San Francisco.
Hanna Institute’s mission is to build
resilience through trauma-informed
practices utilizing a wide range of
activities, collaborating with other youth-
serving organizations through community
forums, in-depth training and on-site
support services. ■
HANNA INSTITUTE: DEDICATED TO BUILDING COMMUNITY
WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL BREAKFAST SERIES
At Hanna Institute’s latest event, Judge Troy L. Nunley, from his unique vantage point in one of
America’s highest courts, highlighted issues he’s seen first-hand about the role childhood adversity
and trauma plays in the incarceration and treatment of juvenile and young adult offenders.
BACK TO
SCHOOL

4. What is your understanding of the
mission of Hanna, and how do you
plan to contribute as a priest?
McGivern: The mission is rooted in
the gospel values of the Catholic
tradition in which the dignity and
respect of each young man is affirmed
and cherished. The Hanna community
celebrates the unique and diverse gifts
of each of these young men who come
to us both from Catholic traditions
and other rich and diverse spiritual
backgrounds. With faith, education and
care, the well-being of each of these
young men is nurtured and cultivated.
As Hanna’s resident chaplain, I hope
to contribute through a ministry of
presence, compassion, pastoral
care, support and—perhaps most
important—listening. I know there are
many programs in place in terms of
care and support, and I am looking
forward to learning more about
these. By building on these existing
programs, in collaboration with
others, I will utilize my pastoral and
counseling experience. An important
part of my outreach is to get to know
the boys personally, encourage
them to become their very best and
acknowledge and affirm their unique
gifts and talents. I want to listen
and understand their stories, hopes,
dreams and find out what speaks to
them in terms of meaningful spiritual
care and support. ■
Continued from front page
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 13, 2017
25th Annual Golf Classic
Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa
NOVEMBER 9, 2017
A Giant Day for Hanna
5:00 p.m.
Momo’s San Francisco
NOVEMBER 17, 2017
MC Yogi: Book Signing & Concert
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Hanna Boys Center Auditorium
For more information or to register for any
event, visit us at www.hannacenter.org.
FIND US ON
“I have tremendous gratitude, as well as
excitement, to be part of a professional,
supportive and caring community where
“Turning Hurt to Hope” are not just words,
but a living reality.
Are you a former Hanna
boy, a donor, a former Board
member, a Hanna friend?
Please share your story about
why you care about Hanna. We
would love to have your tribute.
Go to www.hannacenter.org/
story and send us a few words
or a story, a photo or a video.
Thank you for caring and
sharing with us. Go to
www.hannacenter.org/story.
17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476
HELP HANNA:
share your
STORY