Fairfield County Catholic Publishes Article on Sacred Heart Greenwich's Legacy in Service Leadership Award

Fairfield County Catholic recently published an article on Sacred Heart Greenwich's Legacy in Service Award. Please read below and enjoy!

Sacred Heart Greenwich Receives Service Award

Rye, N.Y. - On December 6, Sacred Heart Greenwich was honored with the Legacy in Service Leadership Award at the Don Bosco Dreams Gala, held at the Shenorock Shore Club. “This year’s gala theme is Legacy, Impact, Community,” said Jerry F. Rodriguez, executive director of Don Bosco. “Sacred Heart Greenwich truly embodies these values, reflecting a deep commitment to service that aligns seamlessly with our mission.”

This recognition highlights the partnership between Sacred Heart Greenwich and two of Don Bosco’s school readiness programs, which serve local children in need. Rooted in the spirit of Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these,” this honor celebrates Sacred Heart Greenwich’s commitment to caring for and empowering the community—putting love and service into action.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the Don Bosco Community Center, an organization whose mission to serve those in need exemplifies compassion and dedication,” shared Michael F. Baber, president of Sacred Heart Greenwich. “Sacred Heart Greenwich is proud to be a long-standing partner in supporting their vital work. At our core, we are more than a school—we are a community committed to service and leadership, driven by the belief that the world is our extended family. This recognition affirms our shared commitment to making a lasting impact, and we are humbled to continue this journey alongside Don Bosco.”

The partnership between Don Bosco and Sacred Heart Greenwich has thrived since the inception of Don Bosco’s school readiness programs. From the beginning, Sacred Heart Greenwich tudents have actively volunteered in Don Bosco’s summer and Saturday academic programs as pen pals to children in the after-school program and assisted at the soup kitchen.

These programs break the cycle of poverty by providing essential support in food security and education. The programs include Don Bosco Feeds, the Early Childhood Bilingual Scholars, the Afterschool and Summer Camp programs, and the College Access Program. Together, Don Bosco staff and volunteers offer academic assistance, STEM enrichment, recreational activities and meals to children in the Port Chester community, empowering them to build a brighter future.

During her sophomore year, Maxine Boeding ’25 was invited to volunteer with Don Bosco. Since then, she has worked in Don Bosco’s Early ChildhoodBilingual Program, helping children ages three to six improve their literacy, numeracy, and motor skills. This summer, she conducted research on the program’s impact, finding alarmingly low literacy and numeracy levels among underserved youth, but also measuring visible improvements in test scores after just five weeks in Don Bosco’s summer program. These results underscored the pressing need for expanded educational opportunities.

“Volunteering with Don Bosco has transformed my life in ways I can’t fully express,” she said. “I remember the smiles on students’ faces when they learned to write their names or count to 20. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.” Similarly, Caitlin Leahy ’25, an Early Childhood Bilingual Educator, reflects, “Each day is not just about teaching English and Spanish to the children; it’s about building connections and making a meaningful impact.”

Boeding and Leahy’s experiences at Don Bosco reflect the values of service and global perspective that Sacred Heart Greenwich seeks to instill in its students.