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Proclamation honoring Father Donald C. Fisher, co-founder of the Focus On Renewal, for his 46 years of dedication to serving the Sto-Rox community.
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WHEREAS, Reverend Donald C. Fisher was ordained a Catholic priest in 1961 and has served as an Assistant Pastor and Pastor in parishes throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, from 1975 to 1979, Father Don Fisher worked as a missionary in Loliondo, Tanzania of East Africa; and
WHEREAS, in 1969, Father Don Fisher, in conjunction with the late Sister of Charity of Nazareth Paulette Honeygosky, co-founded Focus On Renewal (F.O.R.), a nonprofit agency, located along Chartiers Avenue in the Borough of McKees Rocks, with a mission to serve and uplift economically disadvantaged individuals and families in the Sto-Rox community; and
WHEREAS, Father Don Fisher was the first Executive Director of F.O.R. and under his leadership the organization created a credit union, an afterschool program, a lending library, a senior center, and healthcare clinic. Fr. Fisher was instrumental in developing partnerships with Allegheny General Hospital and the Staunton Clinic to provide pediatric care and behavioral healthcare services to the community; and
WHEREAS, since 2008, Father Don Fisher, who holds a master’s degree in art with a major in ceramics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has inspired, empowered and enlightened countless students through his pottery course at the Father Ryan Arts Center of Focus On Renewal;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council does hereby honor Father Donald C. Fisher for his 46 years of dedication to serving the Sto-Rox community and improving the quality of life in Sto-Rox and Allegheny County.