**Letters
of Compassion was awarded a $1000 grant from truehero.org
for the Manute Bol School Project. Thank you to everyone who voted
for our project! We truly appreciate your support!**
A group of students committed to global awareness and social justice
through advocacy, fundraising, and information sharing. This
year Letters of Compassion has made it their mission to build
a school in Africa by helping to raise $135,000 to $150,00. Currently
over 300 students and 5 teachers learn and teach under a tree
in the village of Turalei. When it rains, as it often does in
Southern Sudan, there is no school. Manute Bol and the SPX Letters
of Compassion group collectively feel that education is the key
to unlock the future of the children of Sudan.
Over
two generations of Southern Sudanese have had no education due
to the devastations of war and genocide, and 85 percent of the
population is illiterate. With the largest displaced population
in the world and little infrastructure in place, the most valuable
gift we can give to the people of South Sudan may be education.
Over 300 students learn under a tree, and during the rainy season
that lasts from May through October, there is no school. Manute
Bol, former NBA player, is building a primary school in his home
village of Turalei. As a sign of reconciliation for all Sudan,
Manute's school will welcome both Darfurian children as well as
Southern Sudanese children.
The St. Pius X High School Letters of Compassion Group was founded
in the fall of 2006 by Jillian Meriweather. She is a 2007 St.
Pius X graduate and now attends Harvard University. It was through
her concerns regarding genocide, world poverty, and suffering
that led to the formation of L.O.C. It is with these concerns
and beliefs that they continue on today. Writing letters to influential
leaders throughout the world in hopes of spreading awareness regarding
social injustice is the L.O.C. goal.
The
2008-09 Letters of Compassion Group is comprised of three founding
-three year members, Co-Presidents Mallory and Meredith O'Malley
and Officer Stephanie Mueller. The group currently has 8 active
members – Katie Walkley, Melissa Gaul, Stephen Bacon, Tom
Scheckel, and Paige Gorman. With the support of their faculty
advisor, Mr. Ron Scrogham and the entire St. Pius X High School
community, the group has raised over $8,000 in just seven months
for The Manute Bol School Project (which needs a total of $150,000
to build the primary school for the children in Turalei Sudan).
The following list of fundraisers are a true testament to the
hard work of the L.O.C. students and the St. Pius X High School
community and reflects their desire to truly help the children
in Africa.
1. September 11, 2008 - Jeans Day - $830.00
2. October 2008 - Set up online donation website www.firstgiving.com/spxloc
- $340.00
3. November 11, 2008 - Barnes and Noble Book Fair Partnership
-$236.65
4. November 2008- Sold Roaster's Joe's coffee - $255.00
5. December 12, 2008 - Mallory and Meredith O'Malley Spoke about
"Service before Self", their experiences at the 2008
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, and The Manute Bol School Project
at the Plaza Rotary Club meeting held at the International Hotel
on the Plaza to approximately 50 businessmen and received a donation
for the Manute Bol School Project - $205.00
6. December 2008- The SPX Student Council sold candy cane grams
- $400.00
7. January 2009- Donations sent to Sudan Sunrise in St. Pius X
High Schools name - $318.35
8. March 7, 2009 - Spring Bazaar and Craft Sale - $4428.72.
9. March 10 – 19, 2009 - Student Raffle during the 9 days
of Novena's to St. Joseph and March 26th Jeans Day – Combined
total $1,219.00
10. March 21, 2009 - Barnes and Noble Book Fair Partnership –
$196.50
11. April 21 – TRUE HERO CONTEST - was awarded a
$1000 grant from truehero.org
for the Manute Bol School Project. Thank you to everyone who voted
for our project!**
12. Other ideas in the planning stages
Construction has begun on the school for the 300+ children that
learn from under a tree in Turalei, Sudan with the first purchase
of a new brick press.
When asked the reason why the SPX students are energized to see
this project through, Mallory O'Malley, commented, "There
is one reason that truly stands out, five days a week we are able
to attend a school with four walls and a roof, we are able to
learn in a safe and comfortable environment, we are offered endless
amounts of opportunities to insure us bright futures, in Turalei,
however, this is unfortunately not the case."
"Because we believe that education is the key to a prosperous
and peaceful future this is the most meaningful gift that we can
possibly help give to the children in the village of Turalei,"
stated Meredith O'Malley.
