American Province Ministry Connections November 2023

Washington School for Girls (WSG)   Dr. Beth Reaves - Head of School http://www.washingtonschoolforgirls.org/

Lives of Faith-filled Purpose, Leadership, and Service   To whom much is given, much is required - Luke 12:48.    WSG recently launched a partnership with Catholic Charities D.C. and THEARC Farm to engage in service around the issue of food insecurity. This initiative is part of a cross-curricular effort connecting our Religion, Science, and Social Justice programs under the united theme of “Caring for God’s Creation.” Our students will learn about the complex factors that feed into and grow out of food insecurity, provide hands-on service, and explore new ways that they can have an ongoing impact on food access in their community.

Once a month, 8th grade students travel to Catholic Charities food distribution locations and assist in sorting, packing, and distributing food to people in need. In their small advisory groups, the girls work together to provide support that honors the dignity of each individual receiving assistance. Additionally, they learned about how food insecurity and nutrition deficits can cause larger health problems from practitioners at Georgetown University’s Hoya Clinic.   Meanwhile, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders have been discovering how to grow fruits and vegetables in partnership with THEARC Farm. This spring, we will extend this learning to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, who will be planting a vegetable garden at their campus. From these experiences, we hope that our girls will gain a deeper understanding of how we can be stewards of God’s creation and share its abundance with those in need, and lay the foundation for expanded service partnerships in the years to come.

Hope Partnership for Education    Virgil Sheppard - President and CEO http://www.hopepartnershipforeducation.org/

Hope Partnership for Education's students, alumni, and members of the Board of Trustees hosted its 17th Annual Friendraiser, The Legacy of Hope, on October 26, 2023. Over 200 guests gathered at the Ballroom at the Ben in Center City Philadelphia to celebrate the vision of Hope, now in our 22nd year of serving North Philadelphia.

The evening was especially important because we honored The Jeff & Kathy Siegfried Family Foundation. For the past 15 years, Mr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Kathleen Siegfried have championed the transformative, caring, and joy-filled learning experience for countless students at Hope Partnership School. Mrs. Siegfried has served as Board Chair for three terms and co-led the Advancement Committee, strategically raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the organization. The Foundation has recruited other volunteers to advance our mission, advocated for equitable education access for all students in the greater Philadelphia region, and spread the word among the business community, friends, and family members. We are proud to announce that we raised $367,876, a reflection of The Jeff & Kathy Siegfried Family Foundation's unwavering support for Hope's vision. Our faculty, staff, and champions are thrilled to be able to support Hope students as they move forward in their journey of completing their education and launching what we are confident will be successful careers.

Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus  Casa Cornelia Law Center * Providence Center Co-Sponsored Ministries of the Society of Holy Child Jesus South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (LAMP) *  Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep * Hope Partnership for Education *  Cristo Rey New York High School * Washington School for Girls    ~ ~ ~   Ministry Connections is a monthly publication highlighting ministries sponsored or co-sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.