Students donate to the Diocesan Development Drive

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Students at J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School are taught the importance of service.

SALT LAKE CITY — Students from J.E. Cosgriff Memorial Catholic School recently raised and donated $200 to the Diocesan Development Drive as part of a focus on service, which is stressed heavily at the school.

Each month the school’s student leadership council, comprised of seventh- and eighth-graders who are elected by their peers, comes up with a service project for students to participate in.

In April, at the suggestion of Father Joshua Santos, administrator of St. Ambrose Parish, the council decided to raise funds for the DDD and for Catholic Community Services.

“I explained to them about the DDD and where the funds are used, and the students said ‘Let’s go with that,’” Principal Betsy Hunt said.

So last month J.E. Cosgriff students sold hundreds of smencils (scented pencils) and sponsored a family Bingo night, netting $200 for the DDD and $300 for CCS.

Hunt sent the money along with a letter requesting that it be used “to benefit programs and individuals in need” to the diocese.

Karen Hurley, director of the Office of Stewardship, said this is the first time in her experience the office has received a donation like this.

“It is extremely unusual for a school to send such a letter,” she said. “It is so heartwarming and so encouraging.”

“We have been working since 2012 in our diocese to message stewardship,” she said. “We are all co-workers in the Lord’s vineyard. For the youth to take this seriously and to be part of building the kingdom of God, they are models for all students, not just those in Catholic schools.”

The students enthusiastically participate in the monthly service projects, Hunt said. They have donated the funds they have raised to local causes like The Road Home, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Friends for Life as well as to international causes.

“Here at J.E. Cosgriff, we feel it is critical to have a commitment to serving others,” Hunt said. “The students are constantly thinking of ways to serve.”

“We want students to leave this school knowing the critical component of helping others and to make it part of their heart and soul to go out into the world and do good,” she added.