Happy Thanksgiving from President Appel

Dear Friends,

As Thanksgiving draws near, I once again consider myself sincerely grateful for all of you who make it possible for us to live out our mission of transforming lives through education. Our students and families serve as my daily reminder of the difference you are making through your generosity.

If anyone has a hard time believing that middle school boys can be a wonderful bunch, tell them to come visit San Miguel School. They will quickly see that our students are full of wit, humor, compassion, and a great deal of gratitude. They are grateful to God for all that they have. They are grateful to their families for the sacrifices they make that allow them to achieve the brightest possible futures. And they are grateful to the supporters of San Miguel who make their education possible.

This gratitude colors their ambitions for the future. Already, in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, our students speak about a desire to give back and strengthen the community that believed in them. We see this in our graduates, from the high school freshmen who visit to tutor younger students, all the way to the medical school student who sits on our board. Our students seek not only to succeed; they want to pay it forward.

This is the power of your support. The lives transformed through a San Miguel education continue that spark of generosity in and beyond our community. And while words do not do justice to the gratitude due to everyone who contributes to our work, I still say: thank you. Thank you for being a part of our community and for bringing more light, hope, and goodness into the world.

Please know that you and your families will be in my prayers this season. Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts…Forever!

Maureen Appel

President