Pam Hill, 37, an individual in the Life Sharing Through Family Living Program of Mental Retardation Services, Catholic Social Services, was recently reunited with her siblings in Philadelphia. Ms. Hill's mother died in childbirth and at the time, Pam was separated from her two brothers and sister. That was in 1964. Since that time, Pam's siblings believed that she was deceased and Pam was unaware that she had family.

As a child, Ms. Hill first lived in a home, then in a private care facility for the mentally retarded. In 1986, Ms. Hill entered the Family Living Program of Catholic Social Services and has lived with the same family for 14 years, the McCray family of Philadelphia.

For the past four years, Ms. Hill has worked at Home Depot in Northeast Philadelphia through an employment program for the developmentally disabled that is funded by the state and the city. (Please see editor's note) This May a co-worker of Ms. Hill heard her name announced over the public address system at the store and recognized it. The co-worker's mother had been good friends with Ms. Hill's mother years ago. The co-worker told his mother that he believed he worked with the same Pam Hill whose mother had died in 1964.

Ms. Hill's siblings were contacted and brought together in early June for a joyful reunion. The family plans to meet regularly now that they have been brought together. Ms. Hill continues to live with the McCray family in Philadelphia and work at Home Depot in Northeast Philadelphia.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747