By Christianne McCormick

September 25, 2022 (El Cajon) -- The Alley Cat Art Walk was held on Friday, September 16, in El Cajon’s Arts District and featured many artists who represented East County in all its diversity.  

East County News Service

March 15, 2021 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) will host its signature Morning Glory Brunch Frog Race virtually this year.  The Virtual Morning Glory Brunch Frog Race will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021 and will be celebrating the event’s 20th anniversary. All proceeds benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, which educates and empowers individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential. 

The community is encouraged to participate in the frog race by purchasing rubber frogs to be entered in the race. Volunteer “Frogettes” will splash from the end of the pool deck, without touching the frogs, to assist the frogs in reaching the finish line. Winners of the Frog Race will be announced during a live streaming event, and all proceeds from purchased frogs will benefit SMSC’s Garden and Aquatic Programs.   

Source:  St. Madeleine Sophie's Center

March 5, 2019 (El Cajon) - St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, will hold its 18^th Morning Glory Brunch on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The brunch will be hosted at SMSC’s Garden and Aquatics Center, located at 2119 E. Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92019.

Annual event raised funds for SMSC’s 2018 student holiday celebration

Source: St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

Photos by Jennie Edwards, Guided By Imagination Photography

November 16, 2018 (El Cajon) --St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) held its 5^th annual Swing with Santa Golf Tournament on Friday, November 2, 2018. The sold-out event raised more than $16,000 to fund SMSC’s 2018 Student Holiday Celebration. The annual golf tournament featured a fun-filled day of games, a silent auction, food and more.

Golfers received a round of golf, lunch, a happy hour reception and a gift bag. Guests also met Santa and Elvis, who arrived to the golf course by helicopter, and SMSC student, Sam Dupree, sang the national anthem to help kick off the golf tournament. The Presenting Sponsor for this year’s Golf Tournament was Sycuan Casino, Tournament Sponsor was Keller Williams Realty San Diego East Foothills, and the On the Green Sponsors included A. Vidovich Construction Co., Cartwright Termite & Pest Control, Inc., EDCO Disposal, Lundy Insurance Services, Inc. and SDG&E.

By Jake Robison

May 4, 2018 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) will hold its inaugural Our Secret Garden Party on Saturday, June 2 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 2119 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon. This event will give SMSC’s supporters and the San Diego community the chance to experience SMSC’s magical garden and new aquatics center.

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) in El Cajon will partner with The Marine Room to host Tea by the Sea on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tea by the Sea will feature complimentary champagne and a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, live music and a visit from The Marine Room’s Executive Chef Bernard. The imaginative cuisine is more than matched by the up-close view of the surf.

East County News Service

Photo: The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently recognized St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC). From left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac and Gloria Chadwick; SMSC nurse Stephanie Perkins, CEO Debra Emerson and board secretary Toni Petruzzo; GHD board members Robert “Bob” Ayres, Betty Stieringer and Michael Emerson.

Aug. 2, 2016 (East County) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County, recently recognized St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), an El Cajon-based, non-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.

March 4, 2015 (La Mesa) - The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Winter Art Exhibit featuring artwork from Sophie’s Art Gallery, an off-campus art program of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a non-profit, non-denominational organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.

August 12, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--The  37th Haute with Heart Fashion Show will be held on August 16 to benefit disabled adult programs for St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon. This year’s show will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, featuring boutique shopping, live and silent auctions, opportunity drawings and a performance from the Center’s Singers and Dance Troupe.

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.

Sophie’s Vineyard will celebrate a special sneak-peek planting party on April 5

March 11, 2014 (El Cajon)-- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the East County vocational day program for more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities, has announced the grand opening of Sophie’s Vineyard. As part of its expanding garden, the Center will install 290 vines in a unique double row design with the purpose of providing students with an education on grape agriculture, selling table grapes at local farmers markets, and the opportunity to partner with local wineries and wine makers.

Frog race offers $10,000 first prize, all to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

By Caprice Harrison

April 3, 2013 (El Cajon) – St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon will host its 15^th annual, “Morning Glory Brunch- With a Country Flair” on Saturday, April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This special event is being held in the Center’s Organic Garden, located at 2119 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon. The event includes:

• Over 20 food and beverage stations from local restaurants
• Boutique shopping
• Live music and entertainment on multiple stages
• “Arts Alive!” floral creations by Jasmine Creek Florist
• The eighth-annual, “Frog Race” with $10,000 in cash prizes!

NEW features this year include: Children’s activities, arts and crafts, face-painting and a “Froggie Pond” with kid-friendly prizes! Each “froggie” is only $5 or, three (3) for $10. Each “frog” is $100 or $150 for two (2).

Flowers, herbs and other plants on sale to public

June 2, 2011 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeline Sophie's Center how has a Certified Organic Garden program that includes a full citrus orchard, flower gardens, a passive-solar greenhouse, a propagation house, ornamental trees, shrubs, herbs, and a worm farm.

The Garden Program cultivates more than strong, healthy plants; it is a vocational training ground where professional horticulture managers help students reap the benefits of developing physical and mental skills, social relationships, teamwork, self-esteem, and a sense of community and accomplishment.