Posted on: Thursday, January 6, 2005
At Saint Francis, everyone gives
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer
At a benefit for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation earlier this year, students at Saint Francis School contributed so many articles of clothing that the donations overflowed from the stage and the foundation had to return twice to collect everything.
After a penny carnival to raise money for the Aloha United Way, it took the student organization several days to count more than $2,000 in change. This is the third year in a row the small Catholic all-girls school has been the top donor per student to the charity.
The two events are among the 80 good deeds the school started working on in July, in honor of its 80th anniversary.
"Saint Francis School has done so much for their students over the past 80 years and it is the students' turn to spread the school's joyous, giving spirit to the rest of the community," said student president Lealei Magat.
With a strong tradition of service, the school expects to surpass 80 acts, but the number gives the girls a better idea of what they are accomplishing.
"When they can see all of these things together it makes a much greater impact on them as individuals because they can see that all these things combined have an enormous impact on the community," said Sean Connors, student organization adviser.
With only 400 students, the school can't match the donations of larger schools or corporations, "but when every individual participates and they come together as a community, the effect they have is overwhelming," Connors said.
Besides charitable collections, the girls volunteer at the River of Life Mission, at homes for the elderly, churches, adult and child day cares, within the deaf community, at the Hawaiian Humane Society and at various events such as parades and marathons. They also participate in community clean-ups.
They have participated in dental fairs and some even volunteered to give a throat culture for a research project on strep throat.
"The whole attempt is to teach the girls to give back to society ... to do for others," said Sister Joan of Arc Souza, the school's headmistress.
The effects of the girls' service can be felt as far away as Peru, where they sent money so Franciscan sisters could purchase school items for a family that had come under their care.
Before they graduate, the students are all expected to put in at least 100 hours of community service, which they can complete through volunteer work, special projects or "anything as long as they get a thank you and nothing else and it's done for people or to make life better for the community," Souza said.
Many students do far more than 100 hours of service to earn special cords to wear at graduation. "The idea is that they'll get involved in these things and stay with it through their adult life, and not just do it because it is a requirement," Souza said.
Magat said some of the projects, such as the used clothing drive and the penny carnival, have involved a lot of hard work from the student organization, but the contributions make it worth it.
"Community service teaches students that with perseverance, hard work and heart they can make a difference in the world," she said. "Hopefully students continue to do community service after they graduate from Saint Francis School."
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
