Sal Di Leo, Minnesota author of Did I Ever Thank You, Sister, will be the featured speaker on Saturday, May 19, at this year’s Ho Waste Donor Recognition Brunch hosted by Charles Hall Youth Services. Each year, the Ho Waste (Good Voice) event celebrates those individuals and organizations that make a difference in the lives of at-risk children and their families in North Dakota. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at Bismarck’s Municipal Country Club.

This May, National Foster Care Month serves as a platform for connecting our nation’s most vulnerable children to concerned, nurturing adults who, no matter how much time they have to give, can do something to change a lifetime for today’s high risk youth in foster care, explains Gayla Sherman, co-executive director of Charles Hall Youth Services. In the United States today, there are just over 400,000 children in foster care.

“In North Dakota, we have fewer than 1,000 children in foster care,” comments Sherman. “We should be able to get our arms around that and make a lasting, positive difference for the future of these kids. The difference between triumph and tragedy is clear – it only takes one, truly caring adult in a child’s life to make a difference.”

Sal Di Leo spent a decade of his young life in a Catholic orphanage outside Chicago. In his book, he shares his journey of discovery and remembrance as he reconstructs what really happened to him and his siblings, including some difficult years at Nebraska’s Boy’s Town.

As an adult, Di Leo tried to rise above his turbulent past in an aggressive quest for power and money. His success soon turned to failure, including bankruptcy and contemplation of suicide. Then, 43 years following his years at the orphanage, Di Leo returned to thank the Sisters of St. Francis who “saved his life, once upon a time.”

“Although it was not easy,” says Di Leo, “I was fortunate enough to be influenced and helped by many giving adults along the way who have made all the difference. I wasn’t intending on writing a book when I started out, I just wanted to write a story I thought needed to be told.”

A successful business consultant today, 57-year-old Di Leo is now a sought-after speaker around the country for Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, and many civic groups supporting at-risk children and their families. His goal is to sell 100,000 books within the year to get his message out that gratitude is the best way to overcome life’s obstacles and find forgiveness, courage and hope.

“Look around and look for good,” says Di Leo. “Gratitude will help you overcome the obstacles in your way. Someday, you can pass this on to another who needs encouragement. . . . Don’t stop giving. You are making a difference.”

“Like all children, youth in foster care deserve and benefit from enduring, positive relationships with caring adults,” states Sherman. “Now is the time to get involved, and Sal is just the person to inspire our community to do more.”

Di Leo is scheduled to do a book signing at Barnes & Noble in the Southridge Center on Friday, May 18, beginning at 2:30 p.m. In addition, books will be sold at the Ho Waste Brunch and are available for download at Amazon.com. and Barnes & Noble.com.

Sponsored by KXMB-TV, this year’s event will feature musical entertainment by the Sonorus String Quartet, with Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster Everaldo Martinez. Special recognitions will include the Living the Message community giving award, the Power of One award, the Macedonian Stewardship award acknowledging the philanthropic impact of an area organization or business, and the Gear Up Promising Practices award given to a human services professional who exhibits cutting-edge efforts in youth work practice.

For more information about the Ho Waste Brunch, call 701-255-2773, ext. 301, or visit www.charleshallyouthservices.com. The event is free, but reservations are required.

To learn more about National Foster Care Month and the many ways you can make a lasting difference for children in foster care, visit www.fostercaremonth.org.