Angels Help Provide Students With Futures in Education

By Stefanie Gutierrez

Cheyenne held two American Girl dolls in her arms as she waited for her Angel to arrive at the reception for the Be An Angel to a Student Program of the diocesan Futures in Education Foundation on Thursday evening, Jan. 10.

The fourth-grader stood on the third floor of the New York Hall of Science in Flushing anxiously looking around, waiting for her principal, Luke Nawrocki of St. Joseph’s, Astoria, to tell her that her Angel was waiting to meet her, too.

When he did, Cheyenne grabbed a bouquet of flowers, a gift bag and her two dolls and followed him to the gallery where Kathleen and Tom stood, looking for her to arrive.

“So this is my girl!” Kathleen happily exclaimed as Cheyenne embraced her.

This was one of many moments at the reception, where students met their Angels, many for the first time. The Be An Angel Program matches Catholic school students in need with an “Angel,” who contributes $1,400 a year toward the child’s tuition. About 225 Angels currently assist 501 students. Some Angels assist one or two students; one family provides assistance to 30.

Kathleen told Cheyenne that her photograph hangs on their refrigerator and she thinks about her often. She shared with Cheyenne that she and Tom, both retired police officers, never had children. When she heard about the Be An Angel program, she knew she wanted a little girl at St. Joseph’s, where she used to attend Catholic school. “I asked for a pretty girl and I got one!” Kathleen said.

Angels receive progress reports, cards and letters from the students. About 2,600 students are eligible for the program and waiting for an Angel of their own. Almost all are elementary school students, although Angels continue assistance to about 15 students who have gone on to high school. Principals keep their eyes out for children in need of Angels.

The Hall of Science was bustling with students and their Angels, playing games together or talking about their latest projects at school.

Clarissa Elgarten, chairperson of the Angels Program, said, “I think that what makes the Angel program so wonderful to participate in is that you see the results of what you’re doing. And the way the program works, donations go directly to the students. It goes right to them for their education… And to see their smiles tonight is the greatest. You really see their gratitude.”

Terence Boyd, executive director of Futures in Education, said, “This is a great opportunity to get an encapsulation of what the Angel program is all about. We are seeing kids meeting those who helped make their future in Catholic education possible.”

To find out more about the Be An Angel program, visit www.futuresineducation.org.

Stefanie Gutierrez Photos 

IN THE COMPANY OF THEIR ANGELS: Benefactors in the Be An Angel to a Student Program of the Futures of Education Foundation met the students they are assisting at the New York Hall of Science on Jan. 10. Clockwise from above, Clarissa Elgarten, chairperson of the Angel Program, meets one of the students she assists as they present her with flowers and thanks; seventh-grader Marcela updates her Angel, Joseph, on school and her latest science ?project at St. Mary’s Nativity, Flushing; Susan and Kelly Carusi meet two of the 30 students whom their family currently assists, Catherine, left, and Nina, middle; Natasha, an eighth-grader, attends St. Sebastian, Woodside, on behalf of an Angel and thanked all of the Angels there for the work they do; Maureen Cahill catches up with Diane, one of the students she assists; Raymond, second from right, talks with his Angel, Walter Holmgren, about sports and school while watching others play a game at the Science Center; Angels Tom and Kathleen talk with Principal Luke Nawrocki and Cheyenne, their fourth-grade student, from St. Joseph School, Astoria; Keara and Carolyn Cahill, left, came with their mom, Maureen, not pictured, who assists eighth-graders Diane and Katelin from St. Frances Cabrini School, Bushwick, among others.

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