At its Giving Tuesday fundraiser on Dec. 1, St. Joseph’s College is seeking contributions toward supporting student success.
The College is raising funds for three different campaigns: a scholarship in memory of an SJC Brooklyn alumnus who died of COVID-19 in March; a new campus food pantry in the Center for Wellness to support current SJC students (and when resources allow, staff and faculty) who face hunger by providing immediate non-perishable food choices; and support for The CSJ Dear Neighbor Hope House Grant, which provides financial assistance to Hope House students in their pursuit of college studies.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rory Shaffer-Walsh said she is looking forward to witnessing the community’s continued support of St. Joseph’s College.
“Giving Tuesday is an international day of giving; for the St. Joseph’s College community it is a day to show our vitality and strength, while making an immediate impact for our students,” Shaffer-Walsh said. “There has never been a more important time to give, every dollar makes a difference.”
Last year, the generous donors on Giving Tuesday helped the College offer 84 percent of its students financial aid and scholarships.
Giving Tuesday 2020
St. Joseph’s College supporters have the option of supporting a choice of three funds this Giving Tuesday. Each fund supports SJC students differently.
Joseph M. Lewinger ’00 ‘Mr. St. Joe’s’ Endowed Scholarship for Future Educators Recognizing Service
Joseph Lewinger, a beloved graduate of the class of 2000 from SJC Brooklyn, was a proud and devoted SJC graduate who found his passion in educating and empowering the young women at The Mary Louis Academy, as assistant principal.
Known around campus as “Mr. St. Joe’s,” Lewinger was an active participant in the Student Government Association, where he sat as the club’s vice president and as the orientation chairperson. He was also a member of the Chapel Players Dramatic Group and Psi Phi Omega fraternity, and was a captain of the men’s basketball team. Lewinger earned the nickname, “Mr. St. Joe’s,” from the Office of Student Life staff because of his energized personality and unconditional commitment to the College.
Lewinger died March 28 from complications of COVID-19. He was 42. The people closest to him said they will remember him for his devotion to help others, his signature smile and his dedication to his family.
SJC Food for Thought
SJC Food for Thought is establishing a campus food pantry in the Center for Wellness to support current SJC students (and when resources allow, staff and faculty) who face hunger by providing immediate non-perishable food choices. The program is a campus-wide initiative designed to identify students at risk of food insecurity, to help identify sources of food assistance, to provide food assistance, and to create safe-spaces for personal and confidential conversations about needs.
Students are increasingly likely to need a variety of support measures beyond traditional grants, scholarships, and financial aid packages to complete their studies. Identifying and providing such help represents an investment by the college community in its student body and supports the college mission, Esse Non Videri — “to be, not to seem.”
SJC and Hope House
SJC and Hope House work together to align their missions of service, social responsibility and spiritual values. The College supports the mission and work of Hope House and has an established grant, The CSJ Dear Neighbor Hope House Grant, which provides financial support to Hope House students to assist them in pursuing their college studies.
SJC Campus Ministry has established that it needs additional assistance with the tuition and fees of the Hope House students who attend St.Joseph’s. With increasing tuition and costs, the attendees need additional funding, and the College seeks the support of SJC alumni and the Hope House community to keep these students on the path to graduation.
