Nov. 2, 2018 — For the third year in a row, the Great Ignatian Challenge is bringing together Jesuit schools in the northeast to help those in need. Fairfield Prep, Fordham Prep, Loyola School, Regis, Saint Peter’s Prep and Xavier High School will engage in some friendly competition to see who can collect more food for the hungry.
An anonymous donor, inspired by the existing food drives at each of the Jesuit institutions, has pledged up to $250,000 toward tuition assistance at the six participating schools. Intended to further inspire the spirit of giving among the student bodies, the gift will be awarded to each school based on the average amount of food collected per student.
The overall goal of the Challenge is to raise awareness of hunger in our communities while filling our local food banks and pantries with tens of thousands of pounds of provisions for needy families. Over the past two years, the schools have jointly collected more than 95 tons of food.
The schools are raising food for the following organizations:
- Fairfield Prep (www.fairfieldprep.org) – Operation Hope of Fairfield (CT), Action for Bridgeport Community Development Inc. (ABCD) of Bridgeport (CT), Blessed Sacrament Parish of Bridgeport (CT)
- Fordham Prep (www.fordhamprep.org) – Concourse House, Mercy Center, and Part of the Solution (P.O.T.S.), Our Lady of the Assumption Food Pantry
- Loyola School (www.loyolanyc.org) – New York Common Pantry
- Regis High School (www.regis.org) – New York Common Pantry
- Saint Peter’s Prep (www.spprep.org) – St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and St. Patrick & Assumption/All Saints Parish, both in Jersey City
- Xavier High School (www.xavierhs.org) – Xavier Mission of the Church of St. Francis Xavier