MONROVIA – Saints Friskies Alumni Association (SFAA), the organization that represents graduates and former students of St. Teresa’s Convent and St. Patrick’s High School, continues to fulfill its promise of giving back to their alma mater.
On Monday, November 19, 2018, SFAA made a payment of $29,657.83 via wire transfer to STC for tuition and supplies for 87 girls benefiting from their Alumni-To-Student Sponsorship Program (A2S). A second payment of $423.00 was made at STC in Monrovia on behalf of Saints Friskies Class of ’79 for Cornelius Roberts (Grade 3), bringing the total remitted to $30,080.83 for 88 girls. Support of these girls is made possible through generous donations from graduates, former students, family, friends and supporters of the organization.
The A2S Program matches eligible students with sponsors for academic financial support. Since launching the program in August 2017, 92 students have benefited from the program at the cost of USD $54,225.84. This is a significant commitment that reaffirms the purpose of the organization.
“SFAA was founded in 1993 to give back to our alma mater. The relevance of this organization is directly tied to this mission. Our purpose will always be questioned if we do not give back to the girls of STC, and eventually, the boys of a re-opened St. Patrick’s High School (SPHS). So, for me, it is an existential proposition. We give back, we remain relevant. We don’t, we become an inconsequential organization that might as well be extinct”, says Stephen Koffa, President of Saints Friskies Alumni Association.
When we last heard from Mr. Koffa, he noted that the goal of SFAA is two-fold: increase the frequency of support to STC and rebuild SPHS. Having accomplished the former with a sustainable program of sponsoring girls at STC, the organization has now turned its attention to the rebuilding of St. Patrick’s High School.
“Over the last 5 months, we established 2 committees for the expressed purpose of rebuilding SPHS. They are the Committee to Rebuild St. Patrick’s (CORES) and Rebuild St. Patrick’s Fundraising Committee. CORES drafted and published a rebuild proposal that estimated the cost of rebuilding SPHS at $300,00.00 and the fundraising committee published a plan that gives us the roadmap for raising the $300,00.00 needed for our rebuild initiative,” added Mr. Koffa.
The organization launched their Rebuild St. Patrick’s Fundraising Campaign on November 12, 2018. “Buy-A-Brick” Campaign, as it is called, was launched to raise funds to rebuild SPHS.
“Our Buy-A-Brick campaign is a model that asks each donor to purchase one virtual brick at the cost of $150.00, and then recruit another donor to do the same. Using this model, we believe we can achieve our fundraising goal by May 2020”, Mr. Koffa stated.
With the brand of SFAA firmly re-established, the buzz and energy around the organization is unmistakable. More members are encouraged by the achievements of the organization and demonstrate their support by participating in various SFAA’s initiatives.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of SFAA. We currently sponsor 88 girls at STC, on the verge of rebuilding SPHS and in the process of re-establishing a critical chapter in Liberia. We are fulfilling our mission and I am grateful for the support and participation from all graduates, former students, family, friends and supporters,” says Mr. Koffa.
