The 2016 fourth annual Michael G. Santangelo, Jr. Scholarship Event continued to break new ground to pave the way to enable the Fund to assist children in pursuing their educational pursuits at a level that I could never have begun to imagine. After raising $20,000 dollars each year from the first two events, we were able to give four deserving students, selected by Iona High School, $10,000 dollars each in scholarships, $5,000.00 each for their junior year and $5,000.00 each for their senior year. Last year, we gave $20,000 dollars to Soundview Preparatory School to go into their Scholarship Fund. I truly believe that my son Michael is looking down on each of you and is so proud of how you have played such a vital part in keeping his spirit alive.
This year’s event was the most successful to date. We are forever indebted to everyone and hope you will continue to be a part of this generous endowment so that we can continue to assist children in achieving their educational goals. I am extremely proud and humbled to advise each of you that with everyone’s help, we were able to raise in excess of $70,000 dollars for the 2016 event through individual donations, donations by sponsors and through the silent auction. For the entire 2016 year, we raised in excess of $100,000 dollars. On December 7, 2016, the night of the event, we gave a check in the amount of $20,000 to Soundview Preparatory School to assist a student of their choice with their education at this fine school. Additionally, the Fund gave Soundview a check for $5,000 dollars as part of our Board’s four-year commitment to improve their music room. Soundview presented us with a plaque acknowledging Michael, Jr., which will forever remain a part of the music room for all to see.
On the evening of the event, for those in attendance, they were able to see first-hand the effect helping a child with his or her education can make in the context of a more vital concern, his or her life. A student, who had attended a public school while in the 7th grade, was so severely and relentlessly bullied, she told everyone at the event how she self-harmed and ultimately attempted to take her own life. After Soundview accepted her as a student, without initially requiring any tuition, she immediately adapted, gained confidence and self-esteem, and completed her 8th grade. Her family moved and she decided that she was ready to re-enter public school. She is now speaking to children about how to deal with bullying, and her appearance and statement on the night of the event demonstrated how we are actually saving lives. I am forever indebted to her for displaying the courage to appear and speak at the event.
The Board also committed to donate $4,100 dollars for four years to Student Sponsor Partners to help an underprivileged child to attend a private school. Student Sponsor Partners was located after an extreme amount of due diligence. This is an organization that selects children who reside in the most underprivileged neighborhoods in New York City, and places them in private high schools. Incredibly, over 85% of SSP students graduate from High School every year, and in the graduating class of 2015, 96% of SSP students were accepted to college. Although the Board had previously committed to donating $4,100 a year for four years, the Board decided instead to give Student Sponsor Partners a check in the amount of $16,400.00, which will pay for four years of high school for a deserving student, who would otherwise have no opportunity for success.
Additionally, a further act of generosity occurred that night which will help sustain this charity. My sister Georgia and my brother in law, Rod, donated a house they own located in Port Kinsale, Virginia. The charity will be receiving rental income resulting in annual income to the Scholarship Fund of an additional $8,400.00 a year. The growing strength of the foundation is illustrated by the fact that after making the donations to Soundview and Student Sponsor Partners, the foundation has cash on hand in excess of $70,000 and owns two income producing properties with aggregate appraised values in excess of $650,000.00 with no debt.
Next year will be the fifth year of the Event, I invite each of you to drop me a note with any suggestions as to how to improve the event or to advise me of potential schools which you might know of where we can give a scholarship and make a significant difference for a child.
Gratefully Yours,
Michael G. Santangelo