Student Sponsor Partners invites Michael Santangelo to attend the 23rd Annual Founder’s Dinner on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at The Pierre in New York. This year, we will celebrate the stars of SSP who make up our incredible community!
The Introduction
My name is Michael Santangelo and I am the President of the Michael Santangelo Scholarship Fund. I have the great privilege of introducing you to Tyler Roche, a graduate of the SSP program.
On January 30, 2012, my 16-year-oIa son, Michael passed away. With the support of my family and friends, I started the MGS Jr. Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, whose purpose is to award high school scholarships to the neediest of students.
Today, we have nine graduates from private high schools, now attending college, and 14 students presently attending a private high school on a full scholarship.
Together with me are two of the people who are instrumental in making our Foundation such a success, my brother-in-law Roa Porter and my sister Georgia Ann Derrico.
When we began to raise donations, I promised everyone I would do my best to find the right program to assist us in achieving our goals. After a great deal of time and diligence, I located Student Sponsor Partners.
SSP is an incredible organization – it fits our Foundation like a hand in a glove. We currently have four SSP students attending private high One of the first students SSP selected for us was I believe my meeting Tyler and watching him grow over the years was God’s way of helping
me realize the importance of the Foundation and the importance of Michael life ana
I learned how, because of Tyler’s grades, he was not initially accepted into the SSP program. I learned about the strength of a certain woman, Tyler’s mom. She would not take no for an answer and pleaded with SSP in person to give him a chance and SSP ultimately accepted him.
I saw Tyler go from being a child living in the Bronx who experienced loss and hardship to become a student and star athlete at Cardinal Hayes on a full scholarship.
I saw Tyler become an honor student at John’s University.
I saw Tyler go from being a star right-handed pitcher to becoming a major-league prospect who threw at over 90 mph.
I saw Tyler become the #6 recruit from New York in his senior year at Cardinal Hayes, drafted By major league baseball teams.
I saw Tyler get scholarships from Duke, Arizona State, and St. John’s University, among other prestigious colleges, Tyler decided to attend St.Johns to show children from the community that you didn’t need to leave New York to succeed, but most importantly, to be close to his mother.
To Tyler, education, and family always come first.
Education is the great equalizer. Education gives everyone a fair chance to succeed. No matter what area you come from, no matter how disadvantaged a neighborhood, no matter your race or
Nothing evens the playing field and gives a child a chance to succeed like quality education.
One year, Tyler said something at our event that has remained with me. Tyler told those in attendance that if he had to attend a public school in the Bronx where he lives, it would be like “going to Rikers Island.” Think how profound that statement is.
Thanks to SSP, so many children who have had and will continue to have an opportunity to succeed, like Tyler, where they otherwise would have none.
Tyler has a special strength. This year, he was looking forward to being drafted by a number of major league teams. Unfortunately, Tyler hurt his arm and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Rather than sulk or dwell on how unfair life can be, Tyler decided to dedicate his recovery journey to becoming a greater teammate and an even greater student… Tyler said in an interview that “it would be selfish of me to feel sorry for myself as my teammates take the field.”
We could use more people with Tyler’s character in the world, especially during these difficult and uncertain times.
The good news is that while Tommy John surgery was once rare, it is now seen in one-third of major league pitchers. Star pitchers like Jacob Degrom, Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz, David Wells, Hall of Famer John Smoltz, and one day, Tyler Roche. Of that, I have no doubt.
I know my son Michael Jr. is looking down on Tyler and is telling him, “Don’t worry, I got you.”
Tyler has become the face of the MGS Jr Scholarship Fund. Tyler and his mom have become part of my family.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and great privilege to introduce Tyler Roche.