MPF proves it’s the ‘why’ that matters

Bishop Kenrick High School “closed” in the early 1990s, and the building – renamed Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School — shut its doors for good a few years ago. But make no mistake, the lifeblood, the heart beat and the soul of the Kenrick community is flowing brilliantly, beating strong and making a real difference.

The bond that formed for kids who walked the halls of Kenrick is, in itself, pretty remarkable. I consider myself fortunate because I get those bonds by virtue of being in a family that was a member of the athletic community since Day One. So the Kenrick bonds the Kehoes have made are long, strong and cherished.

The lifeblood of the Kenrick community has always been friendship. And from that friendship has come an incredible support system that has transformed the lives of many people.

And I’m not exaggerating, really. I’ve experienced it. And so have many other members of the Kenrick family.

I’ve written before about the Michael Petrone Foundation, and the remarkable things this group of friends has accomplished. And they just keep topping themselves.

Mike Petrone was a 1976 Kenrick grad, who

had a stable of loyal, dedicated and compassionate friends. After Petrone died (during a heart and kidney transplant) his friends established this foundation to honor and support the four things closest to Petrone’s heart – “family, friends, children and his hometown of Norristown.”

The spirit of Petrone was out in full force last Saturday for the 20th Annual MPF golf outing and dinner. The beneficiary of this year’s event was Emil Boures and his family. Emil, a 1978 Kenrick grad, parlayed his talents and skills as an offensive lineman on the football field into a full ride at University of Pittsburgh and then a pro career with the Steelers. Recently he was diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare group of diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood. Emil’s brother Joe, who graduated from BKHS in 1979, donated bone marrow, and Emil is working his way through recovery. But the illness and treatment are preventing Emil from working.

And that’s where the backbone of the MPF stepped up and eased a lot of burdens facing the Bourse family.

Joe Shemar, who picked up the MPF ball as a chief organizer of fundraisers and ran with it, addressed the 180 or so people packed into the hall at St. Titus and said simply… “This isn’t charity.” His message was simple and wonderful. He was telling us that this is family supporting each other. This is a community taking up the burden of one of its own. These are bonds of friendship so strong and formidable that time, distance or happenstance can’t break.

What transpired on that dreary and rainy Saturday at Jeffersonville Golf Course and later at St. Titus was more than just a fundraising event. It was more than just a reunion of Kenrick grads who haven’t seen each other in years. It was more than old friends remembering and retelling the stories that never seem to get old. It was so much more than any of that. And I’m not sure the organizers of the event know what their efforts really accomplished.

As Emil addressed his friends, family and supporters – he became a bit emotional and a little trouble getting the words to come out. Not surprising and understandable. What Emil was experiencing at the moment probably had nothing to do with money and fundraising. It had, I’m sure, everything to do with the humbling feeling that comes from being embraced and uplifted by the compassion of good, honest people.

And that’s where the true wealth comes from. Sure, the financial help relieves a tremendous burden for families struggling to pay medical bills. But what the Petrone Foundation did, and continues to do, goes well beyond a bank account.

MPF’s execution of pulling off these successful fundraisers is staggering. But what’s truly inspiring is the motivation - a pure motivation with only one agenda on its list of things to do – to offer help to those who need it.

And that’s true of the largest black-tie fundraisers right down to the boy on the corner selling lemonade for a dime to raise money for the homeless and the little girl growing her hair to donate to Locks of Love.

It’s not the “how much” that matters, it’s the “why” the makes a life-changing difference.

It’s the “why” that reminds all of us that there really are good people not just in the world, but in our communities. It’s the “why” that brings people together for the purest of reasons. It’s the “why” that is the cement that can make a crumbling foundation strong again. And it’s the “why” that can strengthen a person weakened by the pitfalls of life. Because when you experience that type of goodness and selflessness, hope takes hold and moves a heart, mind and soul forward.

The friends and family of Mike Petrone have certainly honored his life and legacy. Beyond the money that’s raised, beyond the support that’s given, there’s a lesson. The life-lesson that good can come tragedy. Sounds trite, I know. But it’s so true. Since Petrone’s friends decided to honor their brother, countless families have been made whole – not just financially, but emotionally.

And now the founders, organizers – the backbone of MPF, are standing as examples to their kids that good will always come when you put others first. When you work to help people who are facing hurdles and obstacles, that work, those efforts, are transformed into joy.

It’s a lesson that every philanthropic organization teaches to those who respond with kindness, and to those who benefit from kindness.

And we need to teach our children that to give truly is to receive. If they embrace that belief, the future will turn out to be pretty bright for everyone. Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers is a content editor at The Times Herald. She can be reached at crodgers@ timesherald.com.