Saint Ignatius College Prep

WOMEN’S COUNCIL COMMITTEES

All women in the Saint Ignatius community-- including alumni, current and past parents and friends-- are invited to become active members. The Council consists of four committees and participation on any committee is welcomed and encouraged.

Philanthropy

This committee develops and implements a fiscal year action plan to generate support in funding a particular program chosen by the Women’s Council Philanthropic Circle for the benefit of the students of Saint Ignatius College Prep.

Signature Event

This committee coordinates the premier annual event of the Women’s Council. In past years it has been a fall dinner gala, however, the next major event will likely be in the spring of 2011.

Networking

This committee coordinates networking events for the Ignatius family to connect together in a meaningful way. The committee is currently working on hosting small, neighborhood regional gatherings for all incoming freshman families in the class of 2014.

Community

This committee coordinates service projects for alumni, parents and friends. The committee is currently working with the “St. Ignatius Service Moms”, a group started in about 1999 by several West Suburban Moms (whose kids rode on the same train line) as a way to put into practice the Ignatius motto of “Men and Women for Others”, while spending time together and meeting other women from the St. Ignatius community. The group has worked on projects for: The Ray Graham Association, St. Procopius Grade School, Chicago Jesuit Academy, Community Nurse Health Association’s Secret Santa Program and Marillac House. They currently have two major ongoing projects:

Missionaries of Charity Soup Kitchen – Sending 6 – 10 volunteers every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. to help prepare and serve the daily meal offered by Mother Teresa’s nuns at their soup kitchen. Probably 50 % of the group has volunteered here at some point --- it is a great experience! Contact Siobhan Hartsell at sohartsell@aol.com for more information.
Chicago Jesuit Academy Library Project – Helping this middle school for low income youth on the city’s west side establish a working library. To date, the group has sorted all donated books and is in the process of cataloging (in a web-based system) the over 3,000 books in the library. They meet on Wednesdays from 9:45 – 12:00 and then share a potluck lunch afterwards. Contact Jane Reidy at jwr1003@msn.com for more information.

The Saint Ignatius Parent Service Project committee also has an opportunity to volunteer at St. Procopius Elementary School at 1625 S. Allport Street, Chicago, IL. Service Dates are Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 8:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 12 noon - 4 p.m.

The SIPSP has agreed to "renew" the front entry of the school as one of this summer's first service projects. This may include breaking up asphalt, concrete, laying bricks, spreading mulch, etc. Whatever work you volunteer to do, (just showing up and demonstrating to the Jesuits, the teachers and the students that someone cares) will make a difference. Come for as long or short as you like. We will meet at St. Procopius, 1625 S. Allport, Chicago, at 8:00 a.m. and work until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2010 and on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. as needed. There is plenty of parking in the school parking lot behind the school as well as on the block surrounding the school.