Father Crews celebrates 25 years at Hanna

Father Crews saved my life; he saw something in me when nobody wanted me. He accepted me into the program, into the family.
-Efren Sanchez, alumni, Hanna Boys Center
On January 1, 1984, a new era began at Hanna. One full of vision, dedication and humility. Father John Crews brought a different feeling to the Hanna Boys Center program; the boys felt more at ease with him. He became their mentor, confessor, priest, advocate, supporter and often, father.
Some 2000 boys and 25 years later, he is being celebrated at an open house event on Sunday at the Hanna Boys Center, and the community is invited.
After being recruited by the Bishop of Santa Rosa and assigned to parish work, Father Crews became the executive director of the center. He serves periodically as a navy Chaplin, directs Hanna’s 120 employees, and has overseen the building of three new group homes, five classrooms and a recreation center.
The mission of the Hanna Boys Center is: “To turn hurt into hope. To transform the lives of at-risk boys by strengthening the mind, body, and spirit through focused individualized attention, encouraging each boy to recognize-and realize his potential.”
Father Crews sees each boy as a gift from God and creates a sense of family.
Truthfully, Hanna Boys Center is all about respect. You learn respect for yourself, you learn respect for the people around you … adults … respect authority. It’s kinda hard at first, but it’s pretty much mostly all about respect … and then it goes from there.
-Anthony, Hanna student
When Father Crews began, he only planned to spend a year or two at the helm. Now after 25 years of caring for boys, he is still smiling in his trademark Hawaiian shirts. “When you’re around them,” he explained, “you can’t have much of an ego. They are not impressed with titles or power.”
Come celebrate with Father Crews. The event is Sunday May 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hanna Boys Center, 17000 Arnold Drive. There will be tours, free refreshments, chili cook-off, car show, alumni carnival and more.