 |
|
|
|
|
Students rewarded for philanthropy efforts
By Melissa Matchak
The girls of Presentation High School in Willow Glen has been awarded the "Outstanding Philanthropic Youth Group Award"--and they deserve it.
Presented by the San Jose Business Journal, the award recognizes service by young people who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community through leadership in philanthropy. This is only the second time the youth award has been given, and it's the first time that a school has won.
Presentation was nominated by their primary beneficiary, Sacred Heart Community Service. For many years, Sacred Heart and Presentation have worked together to help the community through food and toy drives, along with other fundraisers.
Anne Pistacchi-Peck, director of the school's Community Involvement Program, said the girls who participate donate not only food, clothing and money, but also over 600 hours of volunteer time helping tutor, distribute clothing, pack food, greet customers and type résumés at Sacred Heart.
"We're so proud of the large number of students that participate," Pistacchi-Peck said. "By the end of the school year, all the girls have participated in at least one fundraiser."
Pistacchi-Peck said participation in the Community Involvement Program, which operates as an on-campus club, is not mandatory. She said the school teaches the students that charity is necessary. The school's motto is "Not words but deeds."
"We want the students to also understand social injustice issues," Pistacchi-Peck said. "We've worked with Sacred Heart for so long because we agree with their philosophy. They believe in giving dignity to every person in this valley."
Throughout the school year, in addition to the canned food and toy drives, a penny drive is held, in which only pennies can be donated in the classrooms. There is a competition to see which homeroom class can raise the most pennies. There is also an annual Black and White Ball, which Pistacchi-Peck said usually raises approximately $13,000.
Diane Gatto, Presentation's director of public relations and marketing, said students also participate in fundraisers for other organizations, such as AIDS walks. She said the program allows students to have contact with the community.
"The girls are very dedicated and very involved," Gatto said. "They keep doing it because they enjoy it, and they make it fun."
Sacred Heart Community Service is an organization that, with the help of over 2,000 volunteers, serves about 70,000 people a year, providing food, clothes, jobs, housing assistance, health care, legal help and education for children and adults free of charge. Its close proximity to Presentation makes it easy for the students of the all-girls' school to volunteer there.
Presentation will be honored with the youth award at a luncheon on Nov. 2, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. One of the students will speak about what motivates the students at the school to be involved to such a degree in philanthropic causes.
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
