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By Miriam Raftery
April 19, 2014 (El Cajon ) – More than $45,000 was raised at this year’s Morning Glory Brunch, held on April 12 at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon to benefit the center’s innovative programs helping the developmentally disabled.
A highlight of the occasion included the ever-popular frog race, which had more than 500 entries this year vying for prizes. St. Madeleine’s swim team helped the plastic frog “contestants” along, kicking and splashing at the edge of the pool, while a “frog princess” at the opposite end declared the official winners.
View a video of the frog race: http://youtu.be/o6kFCc-V2Uk
Click "read more" and scroll down for more photos and details from this event.
Actors from Arms Wide Open performed songs from their upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz. Bryce Johnson, a resident of St. Madeleine’s, belted out a rendition of the Cowardly Lion’s song that sounded Broadway worthy.
The St. Madeleine singers also performed for an enthusiastic crowd.
Benefactors in the front row included vintner Stephanie Young of The Manor Vineyard, Laurie McGrath (also a major donor to the McGrath Family YMCA), and Jean McCasey.
“This is why I bring my passion in working with the developmentally disabled and the vineyard together,” said Young, who earlier in the day helped celebrate a ribbon cutting at St. Madeleine Sophie’s new vineyard.
Musicians on multiple stages also provided live entertainment ranging from jazz to bluegrass.
Adding to the ambience, young women in garden party attire, stilted fairies with gossamer wings and the frog princess mingled with the large crowd present.
Guests bid on silent auction items and vied for raffle prizes in a large tent, where the joy of creativity was evident on the face of a student weaving a colorful tapestry on a loom.
Visitors also enjoyed wine tasting and foods from local winemakers and restaurants.
Chef Alex Carballo from Urbn Restaurants, coming soon to the former El Cajon Brewing Company location, served up a cooking demonstration.
Visitor also strolled through St. Madeleine’s beautiful and expansive gardens, and shopped for plants at St. Madeleine Sophie’s nursery or artwork made by residents in the gift shop--also checking out the newly planted vineyard site.
The phenomenal success of St. Madeleine Sophie’s students are a result of the extraordinary vision of its CEO, Debra Emerson, whom many attendees praised for her innovation and “thinking outside the box” vision for bringing out the creative spark in people with developmental disabilities.
For more information on St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, which also operates galleries in El Cajon and Kensington featuring art and handicrafts made by the center's talented students, visit www.stmsc.org.
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