Tom Grace Presented with IMPACT Award on behalf of San Miguel Academy of Newburgh

Three Westchester residents – Tom Grace, Rye; Kirsten Carillo, Somers; Joanne Welty, White Plains – were honored on October 20 at the Westchester Country Club with IMPACT Awards from San Miguel Academy of Newburgh. This was the first year of the IMPACT Awards which recognize sustained contributions, monetary and time, to the school for at-risk middle school boys in the “Murder Capitol of New York.” The dinner was attended by 330 guests and raised $400,000, which is imperative because San Miguel is funded entirely by private donations.

San Miguel Academy has been educating these boys who have been tagged as likely to dropout – a fate that usually leads to a cycle of poverty and violence. Class size is capped at 17 per grade, or 68 in the entire school. The boys are turned around through a mix of education, inspiration, and one-to-one attention; a paradigm shift in educational practices which demonstrates that with the right structure, even those who face homelessness, gang warfare and parent incarceration can succeed; 55 of the boys have matriculated to high school and 22 are now in college.

For more than a decade, it’s been a story of triumph over adversity. The first graduating class of boys from San Miguel are now in private high schools such as Harvey in Katonah and colleges including Mercy College.

Pictured L-R: Tom Grace, Rye; Henry Garcia, San Miguel Academy of Newburgh graduate currently attending Fairfield University, Kirsten Carillo, Somers; Father Mark Connell, president, San Miguel Academy of Newburgh; Joanne Welty, White Plains.