Bishop Jerald Barbarito To Receive Gift from Students at Hope Rural School

Bishop Jerald Barbarito To Receive Gift from Students at Hope Rural School

Bishop
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, students of Hope Rural, 2005 Drawing winner Cecilia Andres-Jimenez, Attorney Edward Ricci and Hope Rural Principal Sister Marion Hangsterfer present this year's Thanksgiving poster to the Bishop.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.- For more than a decade the students at the Hope Rural School have provided the artwork for the Ricci~Leopold law firm’s Thanksgiving cards.  Each year, one student’s artwork is chosen for the cards.  In appreciation for their creative efforts, the children received a special Thanksgiving luncheon in November.  A collage of all their drawings was framed and given to the school by Ed Ricci, one of the founders, board member and voluntary counsel of Hope Rural School, and the artwork chosen for this year’s Thanksgiving card was unveiled.  The winner Cecilia Andre-Jimenez a fifth grade student, will now present a framed poster of the artwork to Bishop Jerald Barbarito (who was unable to attend the luncheon), along with some of her classmates, Hope Rural School Director, Sister Mary Dooley and Ed Ricci on Monday, December 13, 2004, at the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach located 9995 N. Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens at 2:30 pm. 

The mission of Hope Rural School is to educate the immigrant children of migrants and farm workers in an environment of love and encouragement.  Hope Rural is a private Catholic elementary school (K-6) with a 501 (c) status.  Of students who have enrolled since 1980, 74% are Guatemalan Mayan Indians, 12% are Mexican and Puerto Rican, 5% percent are Haitian and 9% are African American/Caucasian.  There are currently 102 students enrolled at Hope Rural School.

Regardless of the number of siblings attending, the school only charges $100 in annual tuition per family.  The school’s operating income comes from private gifts, grants and donations from civic and church groups, employer’s matching funds, foundations, memorials, trusts and individual donors.  The dedicated faculty and staff provide a full education that encompasses the academic year, summer school, after care, breakfast, lunch and snacks.

To learn more about the Hope Rural School and how you can help, call (772) 597-2203 or write to 15929 SW 150th Street, Indiantown, FL 34956 or hopesch@gate.net.