Giving Tuesday November Newsletter 2018

Nov 27, 2018 | Uncategorized

Dear Friends of The Sunny Center​,

L to R, dear friend and supporter Justin Brooks, head of California Innocence Project, Peter and Sunny.

One of our newest and most welcome traditions that embodies all that is good in the world is the idea of Giving Tuesday. The concept may have originated in the US, but Giving Tuesday has become a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and the spirit of giving. It is an observance buoyed by the upcoming holiday season and end-of-year giving.  We are, therefore, reaching out to all our friends and supporters in the US and around the world to connect on the Giving Tuesday! And we would invite you all to remember us on this most generous day of all days. Thank you! Please consider this Giving Tuesday with the gift that keeps on giving – a recurring donation! Any amount will allow us to know we have a steady monthly income so we can spend more of our time helping exonerees in the United States and around the world. Even a monthly donation of as little as $5 per month will help us do the work we do. 


OUR EXONEREE GUESTS AND VISITORS

Peter and Ina share smiles.
 
Our door is always open to exoneree guests, although sometimes there are wrinkles in planned visits when exonerees experience difficulties obtaining passports or are unable to secure a visa to visit the Sunny Center. It is an issue we are working hard to overcome as we want every exoneree who wishes to cross our threshold to have that opportunity.
 
We also are looking forward to welcoming back our former guest Ina for a second visit, this time with her partner so he can get better understanding of the experience of being an exonoree. 

OUR VOLUNTEERS 

Peter and his granddaughter Síobhra, who became a Sunny Center volunteer last month.

We have been very fortunate as our volunteer Ryan has been taking great care of our many animals, and our volunteer Paidraig has been taking us to the airport. Angela, our house sitter, always gets big welcome from the dogs and cats!
 
And, this past month, we also had a volunteer who happens to be a family relation! Peter’s granddaughter, Síobhra, spent some of her October holidays helping us out at the Sunny Center.
 
For anyone interested in volunteering at the Sunny Center, please apply here at this link

 


OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS

Our Furry Friends waiting for the next guest!
 
We have been busy getting our feathered and furry friends ready for the winter months ahead. The days are shorter and the nights are cooler, but we stay warm together.

OUR ACTIVISM 

OUR SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
 
On November 3, we officially launched the “Exonerees for Exonerees” Community in Tampa, Florida. We are proud, honoured and delighted to be able to announce to the world that the Sunny Center now hosts the world’s first and only dedicated community of its kind for people who have been released after Wrongful Conviction.  “This is not just housing – it is Home!” says Sunny. “We wanted to provide safe, secure and sustainable living that would be affordable and be part of a community of exonerees as well as the larger community. And here it is! White picket fences and all.” 

At the Exonerees for Exonerees inauguration, Sunny was in attendance along with Dorothy, our Exoneree Support Coordinator, as well as the new exoneree residents, a representative from the State Attorney’s office, and other supporters and friends. One exoneree, who has been out for 40 years, said, “This is the first time anyone has done anything for me.”
 
Applications are now being accepted through the website
www.thesunnycenter.com. Please specify you are applying for the Exonerees for Exonerees community residence in Florida. 

L to R, Mark Godsey, who oversees development of the European Innocence Network, Carry Knoops-Hamburger, chairman of EIN admissions, and exonerees Ina Post, Dean Gillespie, Peter and Sunny at the 3rd Annual European Innocence Network conference in Barcelona.
L to R, Guadelupe Blanco, organizer of the conference, Dean’s partner Pam and Peter at the EIN conference. 

Picture


Edward Mathews at the EIN conference in Barcelona.
 
On November 9th, the third annual European Innocence Network conference took place in Barcelona, in the region of Spain called Catalonia, which has always stood for freedom and independence. Membership continues to grow and there were 12 countries represented at this year’s conference, including Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Britain, Holland, Spain, Italy, Macedonia, Croatia, Poland, Israel and Switzerland.  It is extremely hopeful to see so many countries dedicated to addressing this human rights and social justice issue. 
Peter now has a very special role within the European Innocence Network community.
 
During our stay in Barcelona, we celebrated Peter’s 80th birthday and the membership declared Peter the “Godfather” of the European Innocence Network. Cheers!
  
Sunny and Peter both continue to promote worldwide understanding of the issue of wrongful convictions. Sunny was interviewed for “The Conversation” podcast, which will air on BBC World Service this coming Monday evening, the 26th. And Sunny skyped in, while Peter appeared in person, at a workshop of the National University of Ireland, Galway Innocence Clinic on October 23rd , taught by our coordinator, Anne Driscoll. The students are still commenting about the impact of their visit.

STAY CONNECTED 

Evening sky from our kitchen window . 

On October 18th, we observed the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Sunny Center Foundation. We have seen our work grow from our first exoneree guest to establishing a permanent community for exonerees .  And we continue to expand the number of people we help to support and heal
worldwide.
 
Last month we asked our readers, “How can we live in a more just world?” We got this response back from a judge who presented at the European Innocence Network:


Dear all, 
Last Friday, in Barcelona, I heard for the second time (the first one was in Rome) your horrifying stories. In Barcelona I did not have the occasion to express to all of you my deep emotional involvement and shock for something that kidnapped your life for an unbearable long time. The only thought that makes me more at peace is that in my life – as a human being – and in my work – as a judge – having your stories always in my mind will make me a better person.

Thank you

Giuseppe Gennari
This month, on this occasion of Giving Tuesday, we ask our readers, “How can you give back?
 
If you are so inclined and would like to give back by giving to the Sunny Center, we will happily and gratefully receive your donation. Make it a recurring one! And we do promise to put it to the very best of purposes, helping those who have been harmed by the most grievous injustice of a wrongful conviction.
 
Happy Giving Tuesday!
 
And stay in touch. We love hearing from you. 

Peace and Love, 
 
Sunny and Peter 

Remembering Peter

My dear Peter is gone.
We sang him home on the last day of the year, gathered around his bedside as we had done for so many days before.

‘Send them green.’ A special message from a Sunny Center supporter!

“I had the wonderful opportunity to be a guest at the Sunny Center this past July. My first trip to Ireland, it always is a magical moment to visit friends who live overseas…”

Exonerees are succeeding, thanks to you!

Helping people exonerated of crimes they did not commit, setting them back on the path to a fulfilling life, is a monumental task that we depend on the dedication of volunteers, both near and far, to achieve.

Even in summer, the work doesn’t stop

We’re in midsummer now, with its long days that stretch until 11 in the evening here in Ireland. It’s a busy time for everyone and everything.

The power of art to heal and renew

Did you know that Peter was a woodworker and an artist? He created so many things. But more importantly, he taught those skills to other Exonerees when they visited the Center.

Looking for green shoots

Photo by Samantha Bookman. Peter and I chose to situate the Sunny Healing Center here in this beautiful location in the west of Ireland. A newcomer may at first see only a barren, rocky, windswept landscape. But, put your hand on the earth here, and you can feel the...

A message from Sunny about Peter

The time has come to say farewell to our dear Peter, who is in the process of transitioning from this body and this plane.

Finding Peace, Joy and Hope

The events in Ukraine over the past several days have been ever-present in all of our lives through the daily news and constant social media. These times can be especially difficult for Exonerees because of the traumas they are working to overcome.

Love Is Always the Answer

Winter is always a little bit quieter than the rest of the year. After a long day spent maintaining the Sunny Healing Center and getting it ready for visitors, it’s time for us to cuddle up with the kittens and, of course, Barney, on chilly winter evenings with a warm fire in the hearth.

A Happy, Healthy and Healing New Year to All

Love has no barriers and no limits. And neither does our gratitude for your continuing support and friendship. Know that you are never alone, because you are part of our family.

Happy Holidays to Our Friends Near and Far!

These are extraordinary times. And you’ve all been extraordinary supporters. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to keep helping Exonerees in the midst of a global emergency.