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Helping Others: A Lewis Family Tradition
Mary Agnes and Fred Lewis of St. Louis Church of Clarksville gather with their children at the fifth annual Ten Oaks Cup Polo Match that benefitted Our Daily Bread. (Photo by Sally stevens)
Mary Agnes Lewis has made supporting Our Daily Bread Employment Center a family affair. The 25-year volunteer at Our Daily Bread (ODB) has literally opened her home for the past five years to host Ten Oaks Cup Polo Match, with proceeds going to ODB.
One could lay it made good horse sense for these parishioners of St. Louis Church, Clarksville, to combine a fundraiser with an equestrian competition. Mary Agnes’ husband is noted equine veterinarian Dr. Fred Lewis and they live on a horse farm. A conversation at their kitchen table with pro- fessional polo player Charles Muldoon prompted the couple and their son Jim to begin hosting a charitable polo match.
The couples’ ten adult children have rallied to support the event. Daughter Joan Lewis Kennedy is credited with organizing and promoting this year’s event and was joined by brothers Ted, who traveled from Arizona, and Jim in competing on the team of Court Place Advisors of Ellicott City.
Among the spectators were other Lewis children and grandchildren. The day raised $38,000, bringing the total amount raised since its inception to more than $200,000.
For the past 15 years, the Lewis’s have also coordinated the efforts of their parish for ODB. Once a month, complete chicken dinners are left in coolers on the Lewis’s driveway with son Tim making the delivery. At 82 years of age, Mrs. Lewis remains committed to putting on an apron and filling plates at the program. She says, “I get a warm feeling whenever I’m working with other volunteers who are giving of themselves. It’s inspiring.”
Our Daily Bread Employment Center
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