Form: OLCA Gives Back 2016

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Over the past two years, we’ve begun a tradition of using Dress Down Days to raise funds for Charities that are close to the hearts of members of the OLCA community. This year, for the first time, we are having a special weeklong Dress Down to raise funds for the organizations.

You can choose to participate in all or just some of the Dress Down days, and you can give more than $2 per day if you like. Just fill out the form on the back of this sheet and you can share how you want your donations to be split among the organizations.

Here is some information about each organization, along with how they became part of OLCA’s giving tradition, and what the special Dress Down color or clothing item is for that day. You can learn more by visiting the links at our website.

If you don’t see your favorite charity here, don’t despair! Just send a letter to my attention with your charity of choice, and we may include it in a future OLCA Gives Back week.

Monday, January 25

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens

Blue & Gold

When OLCA began raising funds for charitable organizations, our pastor, Rev. Richard Conlon, encouraged us to assist in the stunningly expansive works of mercy and justice undertaken by Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens:

For 115 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been changing lives and building communities as it serves our neighbors in need with mercy and compassion. We currently sponsor over for children and youth, adults and seniors, persons with developmental disabilities, those who are mentally ill and the isolated. In addition, we are one of the largest faith-based provider of affordable housing in the country, with 3,600 units of housing, including 2,186 units of housing for low-income older adults, 1,068 units of family housing and 433 units of supportive housing for formerly homeless and individuals suffering mental illness or behavioral circumstances.

To show solidarity as a Catholic organization, we wear our school colors of blue and gold on this day.

Tuesday, January 26

Sickle Cell Disease Association

Red

OLCA Parent Valentine Francois brought this organization to our attention in 2014. The mission of the Sickle Cell Disease Association is:

“To advocate for and enhance our membership’s ability to improve the quality of health, life and services for individuals, families and communities affected by sickle cell disease and related conditions, while promoting the search for a cure for all people in the world with sickle cell disease.”

The color red is used to bring awareness to this disease.

Wednesday, January 27

American Cancer Society

Pink & White

Every Fall, OLCA Parent Michelle Newton and OLCA Staff Member Revette Hinkson participate in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Walk. Last year, we began the tradition of supporting these ladies in their annual walk, and this year, the total donation will be made in their names.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

The colors pink and white are used to represent awareness for breast cancer. If there is a color associated with awareness for another form of cancer that has significance to you, your child may wear that color instead.

Thursday, January 28

Trayvon Martin Foundation

Hoodies

Two years ago, the Class of 2014 approached the administration with a proposal for a special Hoodie Dress Down in support of the Trayvon Martin Foundation. Those students witnessed the anger and hate surrounding debate over the Trayvon Martin case, and wanted to make a positive Catholic statement for peace and justice. Since then, we have raised money annually for the Foundation, which works to educate youth on nonviolent conflict resolution, provides scholarships for inner city youth, and provides resources for families impacted by violence:

The Foundation’s purpose is to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims and to provide support and advocacy for those families. The scope of the Foundation’s mission is to advocate that crime victims and their families are not ignored in the discussions about violent crime to increase public awareness of all forms of racial ethnic and gender profiling educate youth on conflict resolution techniques and to reduce the incidences where confrontations between strangers turn deadly.

Students and staff wear hoodies to show solidarity with this organization’s mission.

Friday, January 29

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Purple

OLCA Staff Member Jessica Seagriff brought the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to our attention last year, in a show of solidarity with a family member of hers who has cystic fibrosis.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

The color for cystic fibrosis awareness is purple.

As it is written in the Prayer of Saint Francis, “It is in giving that we receive.” I thank all of you for your participation in OLCA Gives Back, and I hope that this is the first of many such weeks of charity at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy.

Sincerely in Christ,

Kevin John Coyne

Principal

Form: OLCA Gives Back 2016