When Patrick Kerr passed away in 2002 at the age of 15, he had only just finished his freshman year at Roman Catholic. But, says his mother Liz Kerr, Patrick had already set down deep roots in Roman. On St. Patrick’s Day, his family will pay tribute to his memory by hosting an Irish breakfast at the Center City restaurant Fado, with proceeds to benefit a scholarship fund in his name at the big school on North Broad.
“He really loved Roman,” says Kerr, “so we try to keep the connection to that school.”
The Kerrs are already well known for helping to establish another—and altogether unique—scholarship. The Patrick Kerr Skateboard Scholarship helps defray college tuition for high-achieving students who are also notable advocates for skateboarding. Patrick himself had already established quite a name for himself as an activist on behalf of skateboarding. In a tragic irony, the young man slipped under the wheels of a truck while skateboarding in Jenkintown.
The Kerrs are well-known Hibernians—Liz and her husband helped found AOH Division 25 for Cardinal Dougherty alumni eight years ago. Liz is on the Philadelphia board. Consequently, the Fado benefit is an AOH-managed affair all the way, and the two annual student beneficiaries of $1,000 scholarships are traditionally Hibernians themselves, or from Hibernian families. Most of the winners, she says, have come from the Patrick Kerr Division of the AOH at Roman Catholic.
“This is the fourth year, maybe the fifth year in a row, for the benefit,” says Liz. “It was done through John Reilly and Tom McCourt at AOH Division 1. They talked to Fado about it. Fado has just been so good to us these past few years. They’re even talking about going national with it, to try to institute a fund-raising breakfast in all of their restaurants.”
Local AOH volunteers also help raise money for the scholarship throughout the rest of the year, with events such as beef and beer benefits and a big half-ball tournament. And some funds come from abroad. “We get donations from Belfast,” she says. “My husband (Pearse) is from Belfast and his brother has a pub called the Farmer’s Inn, and they do fund-raising as well.”
But the showcase fund-raiser is the St. Patrick’s morning traditional breakfast at Fado. “It does really well,” Liz says. They turn over everything. Anyone who comes in for the breakfast, they turn it over to Roman; it’s funded a lot of kids now.”
Unlike a lot of the events on St. Patrick’s Day, which can be raucous, beer-soaked affairs even in the early hours of the day, the breakfast at Fado (15th & Locust) is comparatively subdued—and the people who dine on traditional Irish delicacies like it that way.
“It’s just such a nice way to start St. Patrick’s Day,” says Liz. “It’s really low key, more traditional, like what you’d find in Ireland. The fireplace is going, and the music is quiet in the background.”
You can get your fill of sausage and eggs and help a good cause. The breakfast starts at 8 and lasts ‘til 11. The price is $15.99.
