HOMELESS CHILDREN’S AWARENESS CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

PITTSBURGH – For the third year, the Secretariat for Education, Diocese of Pittsburgh has sponsored a contest inviting Catholic school students in grades 5 – 8 to write essays or design posters which demonstrate the plight of homeless children. An entry fee of $1.00 goes directly to help the Homeless Children’s Education Fund (HCEF), an agency located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. There are four winners who receive a $250 tuition assistance grant.

This year essay winners were Ciara Crossey a 7th grade student at St. Philip School in Crafton and Matthew Pelczarski a 7th grade student at Transfiguration School, Russellton. The poster winners were Michael D’Orazio and Tilden Graham both 8th grade students from Madonna Catholic Regional School in the Mid Mon Valley (Donora).

Honorable mention went to:

• Benjamin Furman, 7th Grade, Word of God School, Swissvale
• Simon Grefenstette, 6th Grade, St. Philip School, Crafton
• Ross Guidotti, 8th Grade, St. Joan of Arc, South Park
• Robert (R. J.) Kendi, 8th Grade, St. Therese of Lisieux School, Munhall
• Shannon Masterson, 7th Grade, St. Sebastian School, Ross Twp.
• Jennifer Medarac, 8th Grade, Divine Mercy Academy, Beaver Falls
• Sarah Rizk, 6th Grade, St. Bede School, Point Breeze
• Lauren Stroh, 7th Grade, Madonna Catholic Regional School,
  (Mid-Mon Valley – Donora)
• Nicholas Vacsulka, 8th Grade, St. Therese of Lisieux School, Munhall

Through contest entry fees and other fundraising events, the competition raises over $1,000 for the HCEF which offers a variety of educational opportunities for children and youths in homeless shelters throughout Allegheny County. This agency, founded by Dr. Joseph Lagana in 1999, combines modern technology and traditional learning materials to create a learning environment which meets the developmental needs of children in 18 partner shelters.

As Matt Pelazarski writes in his essay, “There are a multitude of reasons why children become homeless: a parent’s loss of employment, divorce, long-term illness, domestic violence, natural disasters, fire, or substance abuse. We, as concerned Catholics, should highlight the plight of homeless children and champion their cause.”

“This year, over 300 students participated in the contest which has served the dual purpose of demonstrating our student’s educational skills and talents, while reaching out to children who have faced very difficult circumstances in their young lives,” said contest organizer Dr. Ronald Bowes, Assistant Superintendent for Public Policy and Development in the Department for Catholic Schools.