Newtown Square Mom Helps Restore Lives of Homeless Women and Children

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Local parent Rose Ann Scanlon is reaching out to the lives of women and children beyond the Marple Newtown community.

The Newtown Square resident currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Drueding Center in Philadelphia and helps continue the fundraising as well as enriching the day-to-day services at Drueding. The Drueding Center was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer in 1987 to help create two generations of self-sufficient adults.

Since 1987, hundreds of families have been touched by Drueding Center, by living in its 30-apartment residential building, attending its licensed child care center, and by receiving the comprehensive case management necessary to become truly independent, according to the Drueding Center.

Unique from the other homeless programs, the Drueding Center follows graduates for seven years after they leave the residential program, according to the Drueding Center, and offering the long-term support that ensures success.

Scanlon was recently named as chair of the Drueding Center’s 25th Anniversary Gala, which takes place this Saturday, March 24, at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Last year, the gala raised over $100,000 and they expect to raise more this year with approximately 350 guests in attendance.

In addition to serving on Drueding Center’s Board of Directors, Scanlon is a member of the executive committee of Women’s Way, a funding advocacy and education organization for women in the Greater Philadelphia region. She is also a member of the Forum of Executive Women, a leadership organization for female executives in Greater Philadelphia.

Filling The Void, Passing It On

"I had worked at a Philadelphia law firm at the time and we did legal work for Holy Redeemer," recalled Scanlon. "I could see the great work that was going on there [Drueding Center] and I was really really impressed." 

A career woman looking to get ahead in the industry, Scanlon believes there was still something missing in the midst of her climbing the ladder.

"It’s funny–I think that earlier in my career I was busy trying to focus on what I needed to do in my career," shared Scanlon. "But I really wanted to give back in some way. I have three kids and I’ve had some good jobs but there was something missing and I think that was to give back and I wanted to be sort of a role model for my kids."

Counting life's blessings, giving back was one thing she wanted to incorporate in her life and her family's life from then on.

"It’s easy around here in the suburbs not to really be conscious about the homelessness out there but yet there’s a lot of need. I think we’re so blessed that we really need to give back. And why not give back?," asked Scanlon. "My kids are definitely aware of what I do—we’ve been actually talking about volunteering with Drueding together. I do feel like it’s important to get people exposed and my kids exposed."

On every Martin Luther King Day, Scanlon and her children take the day to volunteer together. Last year, the family helped put on their church's [Main Line Unitarian Church] Harvest Festival.

"It’s important to give back and help others. I hope to give them a sense of compassion. I also hope them to not be judgmental—my kids don’t know what it’s like, thank God, to be hungry and homeless," hoped Scanlon about introducing her kids to Drueding. 

Heart For Homeless Women and Children

This year marks Scanlon's third year on the Board of Directors for the Drueding Center. Scanlon's leadership role in the Drueding Center seems almost like fate.

"I have a passion for women and children issues and also I feel like so many of us are so fortunate that these poor women do not have the opportunities that most of us have that wind up there," said Scanlon. "Some people are judgemental–80 percent of the women at Drueding have experienced some kind of trauma, typically abused, sexually abused and didn’t have a good home life. I never thought that I would once be chair here."

One of the main reasons why Scanlon joined the Drueding Center instead of any other women and children homeless shelter: "What we tried to do is to get root of the problem and focuses on two generations. They have additional support services because a lot of people don’t live in their own housing. I’m really proud of the fact that 92 percent of our families maintain their homes after the program."

Some of her long-term hopes for the women at Drueding include moving into a home of their own, to receive education or a college degree in order to get a job and, most of all, to break the cycle of poverty and hunger and homelessness.

"I’m hoping that a mother and child that graduates from Drueding will be the last members of their family who will be homeless and we hope we break that cycle," said Scanlon.