USD-Magazine-Summer-2023

CLASS NOTES USD MAGAZINE

BARBARA FERGUSON

by Matthew Piechalak [altruistic] Alumna connects with the community over breakfast A PASSION FOR PANCAKES F or more than half a decade, freshly made pancakes have been a vehicle to

woman named Stacy joined the pancake line week after week, but rarely spoke to anyone, Fratoni recalls. “She was always very quick to get her food. Every weekend, I would make a point to talk to her or just say hi. At the end of our sessions, the volunteers circle up and we have a conversation about that day. We often have folks we’re serving join the group.” “One Saturday, she was in our circle,” Fratoni continues. “She thanked us and pointed specifically at me and said, ‘I want to thank you because

Fratoni, a senior payroll manager at Aya Healthcare, has met hundreds of people during her time serving flapjacks in a parking lot at K and 14th streets in San Diego’s East Village. One specific encounter is top of mind when asked what validates her tireless efforts. A

hot breakfasts for people experiencing homelessness in San Diego. “The pancakes are the meal, but it’s way more than that,” Fratoni says. “It’s really about the community and the relationships you build — just talking to people can seriously change their day in a second.”

community building for USD alumna Amory Fratoni ’15 (BA). Fratoni is the lead operations supervisor for Pancakes Serving Up Hope, a volunteer organization that provides

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USD MAGAZINE