Dear SVF Families,
   My name is JoAnne Kennelly and it is with great pleasure that I join the St. Vincent community as the Director of Development. Previously I worked with your neighbor to the south – St. Luke Parish. What started out as volunteer work eventually evolved into a staff position which I have held for the past thirteen years.

   My roots are deeply implanted in this area and the Dominican tradition as I am a graduate of St. Luke and Trinity High School. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Norbert College. For twelve years I taught in the Chicago Public Schools.

   My husband, Jack, is a native of Minnesota and practices Law in Oak Park. We have two children, Kate and Patrick, both of whom have graduated from college and enjoy life from their own apartments. We are empty nesters and though we miss them, we do appreciate the peace and quiet.

   Development is a frequently misunderstood word. Development does not equal Fund Raising. It is a process whereby you meaningfully involve the people in your institution. It is all about building relationships. It is all about people.

    People give to people – whether it be their time, their talent or their financial resources. The more we build our development efforts around people, the more resources we can generate.

    Catholic development is different from non-for-profit development where money is the driving force for survival. In Catholic development we should be concerned about building relationships; we should be concerned about building community; we should be concerned about building the Kingdom of God.

    I welcome the opportunity to begin working with you to accomplish these goals and ultimately to acquire the resources we need to fulfill the Mission of SVF school and parish. Feel free to contact me at any time at 366-7092 ext. 113 or E-mail to svfdevelop@yahoo.com