Scholarship recipients show gratitude to Cardinal Tobin with handmade Thanksgiving cards
Students benefiting from the Archdiocese of Newark’s “We Are Living Stones” Catholic Tuition Assistance Program shared their gratitude this holiday season by creating heartfelt Thanksgiving cards for Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark.
The K-8 students, whose families received $1,500 in partial tuition assistance to attend archdiocesan Catholic schools in Newark, Jersey City, East Orange, Union, and Fairview, decorated their colorful cards with Thanksgiving and fall-themed drawings. Each one included a handwritten note of appreciation for their scholarship.
Many students shared personal reflections on their experiences at school, while others offered warm wishes to Cardinal Tobin for a blessed holiday. Common among all messages was a sense of deep gratitude for the support provided through the tuition assistance program to pursue a Catholic education.
Student messages of thanks included:
“I am so grateful to you! You are so kind and generous. I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving. May God continue to bless you for all you do.” – Sebastian, Grade 3
“Thank you for all you do for us and the Church. You are an angel sent from God to bless so many. I pray God continues to bless you as well.” – Juliana, Grade 2
“Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for your gift. I love you.” – Sebastian, Kindergarten
“St. Michael School really changed my life by giving me a great education and amazing teachers. Thank you for helping me and others throughout the years. You have blessed us all.” – Anderson, Grade 6
“You are the best! Thank you for helping me so I can go to my school.” – Emma, Grade 1
“I would like to say thank you for allowing me to see what compassion is. You have blessed me with a wonderful opportunity to gain an excellent education.” – Julius, Grade 5
“Thank you for your generosity in helping me go to school. I love all my classes. Because of you, I’m also an altar server for our Masses. I feel really grateful and will continue to serve my school and church.” – Ruth, Grade 5
“I really appreciate your help with my school tuition… Your kindness makes a big difference in my life. I hope to make you proud.” – Luis, Grade 5
The “We Are Living Stones” Catholic Tuition Assistance Program, funded by the Archdiocese and facilitated through the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC), provides critical tuition support to economically disadvantaged families. Made possible by generous donor contributions, the program invests in the future of children across the region.
To learn more or contribute to SFIC, visit www.sficnj.org.
Photos by Archdiocese of Newark/Shania Mosquera and Elena Torres
Featured image: Cards by (left to right) Valeria (Grade 7), Jay (Grade 8), Melody (Grade 2), Bryan (Grade 6), and Carlos (Grade 3) (Photos by Archdiocese of Newark/Shania Mosquera and Elena Torres)