Friends

THE MOUNT IS GRATEFUL TO ITS MANY FRIENDS who contribute to show their admiration for what we do, to commemorate an event or cause, or to celebrate the achievements of an individual.

Anonymous (2) Maura Allen Susan K. Allen Joseph Atkinson Tal Aviezer Mary Rose Ballocanag-Trinidad Janice Barth Jon Blackwell Mr. and Mrs. Donald Blair Frances Broderick James Buckley Gloria Carney Rose Marie Chapman John Cifu Henry Collins Gary E. Combs† Maureen Connelly Mario Da Rocha, Jr. Frank Daly Steven A. Denning Alice Dillon Jerry and Vinece DiNardo William W. Doty Sherrie Feffer-Thoman Carlos Ferrer Deirdre T. Flynn Bruce Foester Marie Ange Fontaine David Foster Carol and Ken Franklin Elizabeth H. Fuller† Sharon Gaskin A.M. Krugers Gilroy Mary J. Giuffra Anonymous Stefano Acunto Ryan Anderson Colette F. Atkins Nina Aversano Ana Barbu Mary Bauer Rosemary T. Berkery '75 Kelli Bodrato Smith Lynne A. Bongiovanni Paula Marie Buley, I.H.M. James Burkee John F. Caruso '82 Vita A. Cassese '70 Gail Vance Civille '65 Cristóbal Conde Brenda Crandell Noreen M. Culhane '72 Carol Graf Thomas J. Grant, Sr. Joseph Greene Greenwich Country Day School Vartan Gregorian Barbara Grothe-Penney Michael and Mary Guidone Nancy Haley Rita M. Hammer Deborah Hanlon Eunice Higgi Karen and David Hoguet Kathryn Horne Nadine Hundertmark Jimmy Janeczek Trevor Johnson Jane Johnston Karen Katen Robert and Ellen Kaufmann Joan Kennedy Catherine A. Kennedy Barbara and William King Jeremy Knox Margaret J. Krivda Josephine Labruzzi Nancy Lane Kristin LaPrise Lori Lawrence Laura Leonard Ault John D. Liberator Marjorie A. LoBono Janet Lohmann Wortmann Dorothy Malizia Stephen Marsh Regina Cunningham '82 Kevin DeGroat Peter D. DeNunzio Mary Di Buono Susan Chiaviello DiDonato '82 Joan D. Walsh '81 Cathy-Ann Martine Dolecki '80 Barbara E. Doty Abed Elkeshk Charles L. Flynn, Jr. Patrick P. Grace Rebecca Halperin Deborah Hamilton Steven M. Hayes Maureen A. Henegan '78 Donna Jacklosky John F. Keanna† Rajkumar Kempaiah Mary Beth Martin Jeanine Max-Hansson Brian Mccreesh Michael J. McGovern Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. McGovern Carol McKnight Helen McLaughlin Chona Mendoza Peter Menger Donna Moffly Joseph H. Moglia Anthony Montaruli Marion Mourning Thomas Murty Robert Newgarden Claudia and Robert Newton Robert O'Brien† Gaetana Ostrom Elizabeth Overbay Lillian Grish Packer Lorena Paredes Jane Pelletier Richard Prentke Princeton University Class of 1953 Eugene C. Rainis James Riess Herald Ritch John F. Ritchotte Leslee Rogath David Rowe Ann M. Schumacher Philip Sciame James and Margie Shaughnessy Anne Shaughnessy Anita Palmieri Kerr '70 Kathleen Armour Knowles '48 Deborah Kramer Theresa Kuilan Denis G. Mahoney Mary Beth Malone '75 Stephen A. Manzi Maura A. Markus Valerie E. Mastronardi '61 Maureen McDonald Madeleine Melkonian Fernando Mendoza Edward Meyer Paul W. Mourning Leah Munch '12 Pamela J. Newman Gabrielle Occhiogrosso Barbara Palombo Brian Simmons Joan F. Smyth Frank Sowinski Brendan Spillane Robert J. Stimpfl Marc Stormes Jason Streeter Wendy Svarre Jean M. Swintek Carroll and Vin Tavella The Coaches Care Fund Andrew Tonaj Patrick Tormey Jo-Ann Turner Paul Vercesi Paul Vermaelen Jayson Villalobos Jean Von Stamwitz John F. Wagner Raymond Walker Gary and Susan Walters William Walton John Warner Lynn Wasylina George Webb Sally White John and Sharon Wu Michael and Diane Yanniello Anne Zagar

TRUSTEES, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF

THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVERYDAY WORK and governance of the Mount give of themselves on a daily basis—and yet these loyal community members gave monetary gifts during 2019-2020 as well.

Gail Zona Ronald Pecci, OFM Stephanie Pietros Nicole Quaranto '18 Daniel T. Regan H. Gerard Seitz Matthew Shields Evelyn Simpson Joan M. Squires '73 Thomas Vassallo Jane Von Hagen Susan L. Whitney '72 Robert Williams '11 James Wong Kristin Yanniello '13 Edward Zukowski

continued from page 35 “My experience as a member of the SSLP introduced me to the Vincentian charism, provided leadership opportunities in ministries to people experiencing homelessness and our veterans, and gave me a built-in community of friends who were also committed to the mission of the Sisters of Charity,” remarked Owen. “Through the SSLP, I was able to grow and become more flexible, responsive, and collaborative when approaching different areas of service. I’m lucky to still be so connected to the Sisters today—working alongside them to advocate for human dignity and respond to the signs of the times.”

Service at the Mount is not just an extracurricular activity—it’s an essential component of the College’s most fundamental values and the charism of the Sisters of Charity. Service to the local community extends far beyond participants in the SSLP, engaging all members of the campus community in conversations about our global commitment to human dignity.

The second program, the Mott Street Scholarship Program, is named for the Sisters of Charity’s first mission—the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum— which was established in 1817 on the corner of Prince and Mott Streets in New York City. The program serves talented students who have persevered through foster care or homelessness and who are educationally and emotionally ready for college.

Social services and public support available to these individuals typically end when they reach 18 years of age. At this point, many of these young people find themselves on their own—trying to figure out the next step when all else is in flux.

Funding for the Mott Street Scholarship covers tuition, room and board, fees, textbooks, a laptop, and insurance for each student in the program. Additionally, the Mount provides supplementary academic and emotional counseling services and the fundamental tools for success.

“Mott Street Scholars have experienced unimaginable traumas and have been forced to make decisions no young person should have to make,” remarked President Charles L. Flynn, Jr. “There is no other program like this in the United States. We are transforming lives. And we are giving individuals an authentic opportunity to be fully self-reliant and accomplish their goals.”

In 2015, the College began collaborating with Covenant House New York, an organization that cares for and shelters homeless and trafficked youth to identify young people eager to attend college, but who lack the financial resources and support to get there. Partnerships have since developed with other organizations in the New York metro area—including Covenant House New Jersey and Rising Ground.

Meeting the needs of each Mott Street Scholar is costly—exceeding $60,000 per year—but year-round housing for all four years of study finally gives these students a home here at Mount Saint Vincent.

“The College has a goal to enroll 10 new Mott Street Scholars each year. It is ambitious. But these young people are among the finest and most committed students the Mount has seen in its long history, and we are ready to support them in all their endeavors,” added Dr. Flynn.

Mott Street Scholars are immersed in college life, complete with the rich and varied opportunities that all Mount students enjoy.

There are currently 23 Mott Street scholars living and studying on campus. Ninety-five percent of them are in good academic standing. They give back over 500 hours of volunteer service to the local community each year. “I participated in the Mount’s first Sleep Out last year and it was a very humbling experience. I know that homelessness is a pertinent issue— especially here in New York—but my eyes were opened to the hardships students have faced right here on campus.” — Hadisa Chowdhury ’21

Several are members of the Honors Program and scholastic honor societies. They are truly remarkable individuals. To date, five Mott Street Scholars have graduated. One completed a post-graduate year serving in a Sisters of Charity sponsored mission, a few are preparing for law and graduate school, and the remaining graduates are working as they begin to launch their desired careers.

The Ad Lux campaign sought to raise $5,000,000 to help sustain and grow the Mott Street Scholarship Program. Maureen A. Henegan ’78, a trustee of the College, helped facilitate the Mount’s partnership with Covenant House and funded the first endowed Mott Street Scholarship as part of her generosity to the Ad Lux campaign. Hundreds of alums and donors have followed in her footsteps—donating anywhere from $5 to $50,000 to support both annual and endowed Mott Street scholarships.

Additionally, Mount Saint Vincent, in partnership with Covenant House New Jersey, hosted its first Annual Sleep Out in April 2019—which raised nearly $30,000 in support of Mott Street Scholars and their ambitions. The Sleep Out is an act of solidarity. It draws attention to the limited educational resources available to those who persist through foster care and/or homelessness and supports the educational cost of every Mott Street Scholar.

“I participated in the Mount’s first Sleep Out last year and it was a very humbling experience,” said Hadisa Chowdhury ’21. “I know that homelessness is a pertinent issue—especially here in New York—but my eyes were opened to the hardships students have faced right here on campus.”

The second annual Sleep Out, which was scheduled for April 17, 2020, was unfortunately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By sleeping out, we are committing ourselves to the College’s mission through our understanding of our common humanity, our commitment to human dignity, and our obligations to one another,” said Lynne Bongiovanni, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the College. “The College is eager to continue our relationship with Covenant House New Jersey and we are looking forward to rescheduling our next Sleep Out when it is safe to do so.”

Mott Street Scholars are Leaders in Service, often working alongside students in the Seton Service and Leadership Program.

These programs are just two examples of the College’s living mission— evident in the unwavering commitment to social justice of both current students and alumnae/i. The faithfulness and tenacity of the Sisters of Charity lives on through these programs, and funding raised through the Ad Lux campaign assures the principles established by our founders live on for years to come.