Hanna Boys Center

The concept of a home for "orphaned" and "rejected" boys began in 1944 with Monsignor William Flanagan, the Director of Catholic Charities and Reverend William O'Connor, Assistant Director. They approached Archbishop John J. Mitty of the Diocses of San Francisco with their idea and received his approval to take on this project.

After establishing a boys home in Menlo Park, the project moved in 1949 to it's new home at the former Morris Ranch in the Valley of the Moon, Sonoma, California. The center was named after Archbishop Edward Joseph Hanna because of his accomplishments and charitable projects. Over the years, more residential cottages and support facilities were built to meet the ever growing need of at-risk children.

One of the facilities houses a dental clinic, staffed by Katherine Jones, Registered Dental Assistant, who coordinates over 84 volunteer dentists, dental assistants and hygienists from the community who have provided dental care, free of charge, for over 50 years.

The clinic is supported by financial donations, volunteer workers, equipment and supply donations. Some of the major contributors are Bill Donnally of Sullivan-Schein who has been arranging for donated dental supplies from his company and local dental offices; and the Alliance to the Redwood Empire Dental Society for toothbrushes for all the boys. Thanks to a generous donation from the Pelton Crane Company, the clinic will undergo a major remodel, doubling it's size and outfitting two rooms with state of the art equipment.

During the remodel, volunteer dentists will provide treatment in their own dental offices. The Dental Assisting and Hygiene Program facility at Santa Rosa Junior College will also open it's doors to assist the Hanna program.

Students of the SRJC program will be working with the boys providing oral hygiene instructions, cleanings and assisting volunteer dentists during dental procedures. As part of their school projects, students from the Santa Rosa Junior College Dental Assisting and Hygiene programs create dental education presentations for the boys.

Dentistry is not the only gift offered by the many volunteers. Often the volunteers serve as role models to these boys by listening to them and creating a positive, caring environment. In return, the satisfaction of improving the quality of life and making a difference is the greatest reward these volunteers can receive.

If you would like more information about Hanna Boys Center or how you can help, visit their website at www.hannacenter.org or email Katherine Jones

Thank you to the following local Dentists, Dental Auxiliaries & others who volunteer at Hanna: