Zelie’s Home moms, babies benefit from seventh annual Embrace gala

Since its founding in 2009 as the Zechariah House, Zelie’s Home has served more than 320 mothers. The nonprofit is a caring community that empowers pregnant and parenting women to take positive and effective action on behalf of themselves and their children by providing physical, emotional, spiritual and professional support.

More than 200 people attended the seventh annual Zelie’s Home Embrace gala on Sept. 18 at the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl. Guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour on the spacious lakefront grounds before heading inside for dinner, speakers and fundraising. They also saw a brief video featuring some Zelie’s Home residents who shared their stories and talked about the impact the ministry had on their lives.

More than 200 people attended the seventh annual Zelie’s Home Embrace gala on Sept. 18 at the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl. Guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour on the spacious lakefront grounds before heading inside for dinner, speakers and fundraising. They also saw a brief video featuring some Zelie’s Home residents who shared their stories and talked about the impact the ministry had on their lives.

Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, who just returned from attending meetings with the Catholic bishops in Washington, D.C., briefly said Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity)” addresses “the current climate of technological advances, both amazing and frightening, in artificial intelligence.” The bishop said the primary concern is calling on the faithful “to reflect on human dignity, human rights and our obligations to all our brothers and sisters who are created in the image and likeness of God. What Pope Leo is teaching, what tech experts and politicians are wrestling with and what the bishops are calling for, Zelie’s Home is doing. Zelie’s Home is putting the Gospel and our Catholic social doctrine into action,” he added.

“Zelie’s Home provides a safe environment where these moms and their children are seen as beloved persons who have been gifted by God with an infinite dignity. They are worthy of our love, our care and concern and our support,” Bishop Woost said.

Erin Hathaway, Zelie’s Home executive director, offered thanks to gala attendees, sponsors and others who help with the program. She said both facilities – Garfield Heights and Lakewood – are at or near capacity, illustrating the need for a ministry like Zelie’s Home.

Brother Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap, the son of Zelie’s Home board member Karen Hostoffer, was inspired by the program and started a similar one – Annie’s Home – in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he is stationed. After a brief finance career, Brother Alex joined the capuchins as a postulant in 2013. He now works with in the Padre Pio Prayer Center and is the director of the postulancy program for the Capuchin Province of St Augustine. In addition, he chairs the Annie’s Home board of directors.

“The Capuchins had a home in Philadelphia and were looking for a way to use it,” he said. In the approximately two years since Annie’s Home opened, it has housed 10 mothers, nine babies were born into safe, supported homes and seven children were provided with stable housing.

“Annie’s Home fosters a caring environment,” Brother Alex told gala guests. “No one is judged for past mistakes. Each mom receives guidance and tools for making good choices for themselves and for their children … It is an amazing thing to help those in need.”

Click here to learn more about Zelie’s Home.