FALL 2026
Dear Friends of Epiphany, In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul collecting, and delivering diapers, hygiene items, clothing, and funds so that we can feed, clothe, educate, and support our writes, “Every time I think of you, I women and children. When our women who have been through other programs thank my God for you.” As a reader of FOCUS, you are among those I thank God for as I look back on this past year and all He has made possible through your generosity of time, talent, treasure - or a combination of the three - and prayers! This issue celebrates the gifts of our many volunteers who work on behalf of our residents and programs through events and activities. They include our League members, who meet monthly and run our two major fundraisers; the high school and college students who tend our garden; Drones by the Bay, who generously produced a targeted video for us at no cost; and two of our Board of Directors, whose wisdom and experience provide guidance and direction and who hold ultimate responsibility for our programs. Not every volunteer is featured in these pages. There are teachers, students, pastors, and parishioners who may never set foot in Epiphany Center, yet spend hours organizing,
tell us that Epiphany Center has the best food, the best beds, and the best staff they have known, I thank God for each of you who make it possible for Epiphany to be the finest treatment program it can be. Ours is a demanding program, and some women do leave to try another. But many tell us that when they are truly serious about recovery, they choose to return to Epiphany, not only for the good food and comfortable beds, but for our outstanding staff and programs! As we continue in our 175th year of serving God’s people, I ask Him to bless each of you, along with the thousands of people who made this work possible since 1852, who have stood with the Sisters ever since, and who stand with us now as we look to the future. With gratitude,
Sister Betty Marie Dunkel, D.C. Executive Director
In Marissa's Words
I was introduced to crystal meth at 13 and ran away from home at 15. For years I used, ran from my family, and slept outside. At 24, pregnant with my son, I got clean. I earned my GED, studied to be a vet tech, and met Jonathan, a wonderful partner and father. We had a daughter together and when she was barely two, Jonathan died of a heart attack at work. That killed my soul. After ten years clean, I relapsed. My children went to live with their grandmother, and I ended up on the streets of San Francisco. Street nurses told me about a place called Epiphany. In January 2023, tired of being exhausted and sick, I finally went to Epiphany. From my first day, I fell in love. There was so much structure, so much help, and so much hope. Every morning I woke up excited, because I knew I had a real chance at a better life for myself and my babies. I had never tried group therapy, yoga, or acupuncture. I had never even had structured mealtimes. The simplest routines changed my life. Culinary Manager Crystal taught me to make “Marry Me” chicken. In my third week at Epiphany, I got a call: my newborn son was ready to leave the hospital, but he would not be coming to me. I was crushed. I wanted to walk out those doors and run, like I had my entire life. At that moment of defeat, Epiphany picked me back up. The staff saw my despair and stood by me. With people like them in my life, I felt I could do anything. I used to hate hearing “trust the process.” Because of Epiphany, I embrace it now with all my heart. It seemed impossible at the time, but today we are all together again in our own apartment. I have my family, my career, and my life back. My son is a proud big brother to his siblings. And I still make Marry Me chicken for my family. I will never get tired of it. I will always be grateful to the entire staff, and all the women at Epiphany. They built me a path to recovery.
Stronger Together: Our Annual Fall Alumni Reunion
When LaShay Starks joined us for the Alumni Reunion this October, she was returning to the place where her new life began. She first arrived at Epiphany in 1994, seven months pregnant with her son. Asked what role Epiphany has played in her life, she didn’t hesitate: “An absolute positive role.” Here she learned parenting skills and the value of discipline, lessons that have stayed with her for more than 30 years. She fondly remembers infant massage, well-baby visits, weekly arts and crafts, and the on-site store where residents could “shop.” She left with practical tools she still uses: punctuality, healthier eating habits, and breathing exercises. Today, LaShay works as a city transit operator and gives back by sponsoring women in recovery. She continues her own journey, which she knows is a lifelong road. She’s learning to relax, to forgive herself, and to keep building her social skills. Would she recommend Epiphany to other women? “Absolutely.” She remembers the Sisters’ calm spirit and the infant care that gives children a strong start. To LaShay, Epiphany is a treasure worth protecting, one whose doors have stayed open through many trials, including the pandemic. Her message to today’s residents: the gifts you receive here can last a lifetime.
30 Years in the Spotlight: Bravo to our Benefit Party & Show Cast Each year, a troupe of talented, big-hearted volunteers brings the “Show” to our Benefit Party & Show, delivering everything from laughout-loud moments to show-stopping musical numbers. This year marks a milestone: the Show’s 30th year! More than 50 volunteers have graced our stage, and their generosity and infectious energy are at the heart of this beloved tradition. Thanks to them, the Show has gone on… and on… and on for three decades. To each of you: a standing ovation! Gail Anderson Cynthia Baggott Elizabeth Baker Diane Blackman Dick Blackman Lauren Blackman Bill Boardman Katie Budge Matthew Callahan Michael Callahan Stephanie Case Nathan Cottam Steve Dambrosio Bettina Davis Erik Davis Victoria Stewart Davis Frances Devlin Patrick Devlin
David deWilde Mollie Dostart Dave Eshleman John Eckstrom Dave Evans Peter Fetterolf Bill Figge Traci Finch David Fleishhacker Ceseli Foster Sam Gavenman Portor Goltz Peggy Haas Mindi Hadan Sara Hauter Marcia Hill Jack Hooper Adelaide Hornberger
Photo by Scott Wall Photography.
Gareth Hornberger Marty Izenson Bob Kliger Christopher Kruse Ken Lewis Brenda MacLean Don MacLean Josephine Malti Pat McBaine Susie McBaine Lucy McGuire Pam McKulla Norman Meister Ginnie Menezes Bill Mittendorf John Murray Kim Ortner David Navarro
Finding Peace Through Yoga For four years, volunteer Catherine has taught yoga at Epiphany. A midwife by profession, she began practicing 18 years ago while pregnant with her first baby. "Teaching yoga to people in recovery is very different from teaching in a traditional yoga studio," she says. "It's about meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally." Nothing in her class is mandatory, and there are no rules: "Simply come with an open heart." Recovery counselor Angel Robinson sees the impact: yoga gives clients "another healthy tool for managing stress, becoming more mindful, and caring for themselves." Catherine's hope for every woman in class? "You're good just as you are."
Hiedeh Honari Saghi Gaultiero Negrini Karen Saghi Harold Ohashi Vivian Sam Dwight Okamura Larry Saxton Jeff O'Sammon Jim Semitekol Clyde Ostler Debby Smith D'Arcy Owens Paul Smith Tom Owens Hal Solin Paul Pelosi Robert G. Steele David Pettus Erich Stratmann Jackie Pettus Lizanne Suter Chris Piazza Hadley Suter Michael Pitts Beverly Tuller Teresa Quigley Donald Van de Mark Brian Ramsey Valerie Malone Raskin John Vitalie Anna Becky Redlich Christina Waldeck Ric Wilson Bob Reyen Fritz Zimmer Bill Riley
Meet Our Board: Two Voices
Brenda Maclean A League member since 1999 and Board member since 2007, Brenda believes Epiphany turns the lives of its clients and their children toward health and hope. Asked to describe Epiphany in three words, she answers easily: understanding, compassion, and respect. Volunteering has also brought her lasting friendships. She treasures her time on the Board, the camaraderie of League meetings, the volunteers and staff she’s met over the years, and the shared commitment behind every successful fundraiser. As Epiphany approaches its 175th anniversary, Brenda admires its legacy and believes deeply in the lasting impact of its work. She keeps coming back because she knows her involvement makes a real difference, and she’s hopeful that many more lives will find recovery and a brighter future here. Support matters.
Frank Lindh Frank first came to Epiphany in 2022, when former board member Deacon Gene Smith invited him to sit in on board meetings. Then President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Raphael in San Rafael, and once a social worker in addiction treatment, he recognized the same Vincentian spirit right away. “I was smitten.” One moment stayed with him: the Daughters of Charity’s immediate concern for a baby in breathing crisis, and for the mother. “It showed me what the Daughters are all about.” Why does he serve? “Because the work at Epiphany Center will carry forward far into the future … as the children cared for here grow up and become parents themselves.”
Meet Sister Ann One of our most beloved volunteers is Sister Ann Providence, affectionately known as “Provy.” You’ll usually find her in the green play yard, handing out high fives and hugs in her signature blue pinafore and starched white dress. “Sister Ann brings so much love, warmth, and comfort to our preschool children,” says Lead Preschool Teacher Queenie Chin. “She makes each child feel special.” A former fifth-grade teacher from Ukiah (“haiku” spelled backwards, we learned), Sister Ann has been a Dominican Sister of San Rafael since 1965. She came to Epiphany four years ago because she wanted to be with children.
Today she plays with the toddlers outside and sits with them as they rest, including one little boy she joins at naptime every day she’s here. The children rush to greet her when she arrives and give her hugs goodbye when she leaves. “She helps create a sense of belonging,” Queenie says. “She reminds each child that they matter and that they are worthy of love.” For Sister Ann, the joy goes both ways. “Each day is a wonderful day at Epiphany Center,” she says. “This is such a blessing to be here now in my life.”
A Harvest of Thanks....
so many hands make our work possible. This season, we're especially grateful for:
Serve It Up
Nathalie, USF
Student-athletes from the Serve It Up Volleyball Tournament traded their volleyballs for garden tools and cleared our garden beds for a new season. Thank you to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory for organizing this, and to the students for putting their faith into action!
Inspired by USF’s Feminism in Theology, first-year Nathalie transformed our garden, and our families will be able to harvest Brussels sprouts, peppers, herbs, greens, and strawberries for their meals. Thank you, Nathalie!
Cal Fire
Cal Fire’s Urban & Community Forestry program made our new green school yard a reality, where children climb trees, crawl through log tunnels, and dig in the sand. One proud preschooler delivered our thank-you poster in person and judging by that grin, our little ambassador was thrilled to deliver it. Thank you, Cal Fire, for helping us grow a place where our children can play, learn, and connect with nature every day.
Tree Frog Treks
SVdP Diaper Drive
Tree Frog Treks brought a little wildlife wonder to Epiphany Center children and they were delighted to meet reptiles up close and discover the natural world through hands-on exploration. Thank you for the wonder!
We are grateful to the many parishes who collect and donate diapers throughout the year. Babies need 10 to 12 diapers a day! Led by Ms. Posner’s fourth graders, St. Vincent de Paul School (K–8) collected enough to fill three cars. Thank you to the students, Principal Pini, Father Arturo, and the delivery moms!
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blessed g. We Wis n i v i g s Thank ply grateful for e do to are de u o y l l a d ssible. you an o p e g chan make ou a hing y
Join the Epiphany League The Epiphany League is a circle of dedicated women who give their time, talents, and hearts to Epiphany Center. United in service to San Francisco’s most vulnerable women, children, and families, members work toward three goals: raising funds to sustain our programs, serving clients through hands-on projects, and spreading the word throughout the community. Interested in joining? We’d love to welcome you. Email info@TheEpiphanyCenter.org.
Save The Dates
I believe strongly in the power of mother and child bonds, and I hope to help every woman have that same experience with her children, whatever stage of life or circumstance she is in. Madi son DiNap oli E t t erman
League Members: DeAnn Underwood & Ginnie Menezes
Epiphany League Member
Benefit Party & Show
Celebrating Mothers Luncheon
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OUR MISSION Epiphany Center strengthens family life through programs faithful to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, rooted in Judeo-Christian values and the tradition of service of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Epiphany Center provides client-centered care to a diverse population of women, children, and families, who are most vulnerable in our society. Our purpose is to enhance the physical, socialemotional, intellectual and spiritual growth of each person in our care. Our vision is to create a safe environment that reflects the belief that each person is created by God, is endowed with unique gifts, and is worthy of respect. We believe that our care for individuals enriches their present and future lives, the lives of their families and, through them, the community in which we live.
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