Yes, we do have other interests, although the cats are definitely a huge part of our lives. There is the daily employment that helps keep this place running of course. But we are participants in a number of organizations. The longest running for me is Yokefellow Prison Ministries. I joined this group in 1990 and have had many positive experiences with them. Currently I assist in their Directed Life Program and chair the Finance Committee while also participating in the Banquet/Concert Planning Committee. From Yokefellow grew a passion for working with those that have made some pretty big mistakes in their lives. My educational training has been in the field of Criminal Justice and I hold an Associate's Degree in that field. For a few years I worked on a Bachelor's Degree in that field with a minor in religion. Upon moving to the Lehigh Valley, my undergraduate education took a back seat to all that was to come before me. With the inspiration of Yokefellow, my love of the criminal justice system and desire to see some changes made along with the help and support of Dave and a couple very close family members, The Program of Emmanuel's Hands was born in   1991. Emmanuel's Hands started as a case management and after care program for those being paroled from prison with the concept of mentoring, lives can change for the better. One of the program's co-founders is living proof of that fact. EH evolved into a half-way housing unit for those who were unable to locate a safe and secure residence for parole. Through my experiences with first one and expanded to three homes, if became clear that there was still a component missing. My educational desires had sprung from a longing to help individuals caught up in drug addiction very similar to a close relative of mine. I had made a promise to myself and to his then deceased grandfather that I would try and figure out a way to get him out of that horrible place of addiction he had existed in for years. In attempting, unsuccessfully to reach this dear relative, a passion developed to try and guide others and maybe even someone else's grandchild, out of that horrible life style of self abuse. Education and training was key as I was not going to experience this first hand, I had to try and understand it in a way that might get through to one person. Years later, I have come to realize that I have been able to get through to at least one person to help them change their life for the better, I am now in process of trying for another. I don't know if my goal will be reached but I will continue to try. EH has since closed the doors to all three of the half-way housing units due to a severe lack of funds and my need to pay off the debts that were incurred. That required full time employment so I looked for something that would allow me to earn money, pay off the debts and still give me time to continue, in whatever way possible, the work that EH was meant to do. That took some re-vamping, more training, more brainstorming and the birth of a new concept in rehabilitation called Choices. This program runs for 16 hours over an entire weekend and   has reached over 1500 men, women and at risk youth in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas over the past several years since it's inception on 3/9/1997. With the support of some very key, concerned administrative staff at the Lehigh County Prison, Choices continues to be offered as part of a special housing unit geared toward drug and alcohol recovery.

Foster caring kittens has been a passion for several different organizations over the years. First there was the Kitty Cove in Lehighton, then Good Mews which was based in Allentown, after that there was Carbon County Friends of Animals and now it's Cat's Peek Rescue. In addition to Choices and the rescue Dave and I both belong to and participate as often as possible in the Patriot Guard Riders and Warrior's Watch. Both these organizations are dedicated to honoring our troops both at home and abroad. While PGR is primarily honor missions for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, WW honors our troops and our first responders here at home which include many police and fire personnel. Dave and I have had the honor to stand along with our fellow motorcyclists in both of these groups and will continue as long as we are physically able to do so.

Through my profession in real estate, I have had the opportunity to volunteer for some other organizations as well. In the past I served on a panel called the Grievance Committee through the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors.   That committee is responsible for holding realtors accountable to ethical standards of behavior. I served on it for 2 years. Currently   I am in my second year of service with The Government Affairs Committee, which is responsible for helping keep issues important to real estate professionals in their job of protecting the consumer, in front of our politicians. We make sure that our voice can be heard on issues that can negatively effect the real estate market in general, thereby negatively affecting those who own real estate investments or simply their little piece of the   American Dream. Service to both of these committees has been educational as well as rewarding.

Most recently, going back to my love of animals, I have been honored to participate in the start   up of a brand new organization called The Amazing Grace Spay Neuter Program. This program assists those in Carbon County and the surrounding areas, who want to do the right thing to help their companion pets   to better health and decrease the over population that kills   millions each year, obtain spay/neuter services they may not otherwise have the funds to accomplish. This has been   a desire of mine for a long time as it has been my veterinarian and she has seen this program through to the actual   start up and will continue to assist in it on an ongoing basis.

If you have any further interest in these programs, you can find links to their web sites on our links page. Please check them out and   if you feel so led, help support them in whatever way you can.