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Read the Tutor/Mentor Blog and meet interns working with Cabrini Connections.

View Art Club Video created by former volunteer Joe Piaskowy

The Reason Why We Do What We Do...

The Cabrini Connections' program works to provide resources to ensure that our students are in a career by the age of 25, but there are steps that need to be taken before getting into that ideal career. And one of the biggest steps before that phase of their life is getting into college. Over the past month several of our Cabrini Connections' seniors have been notified that they have received college acceptance letters!!!

Veteran student, Vontesha Stanfield, was accepted in not one, not two, but THREE schools over the past month!!! Ms. Stanfield received acceptance letters from Northern Illinois, Indiana State, and Central State. She is still waiting to hear from two other schools she has applied to and is still in the process of submitting 5 more college applications!!!

Veteran student, Alexis Montgomery, was accepted into Wright College and Truman! She recently had a meet and greet at Wright College and all went very well. And what makes this news even more special is the fact that Wright College was the 1st college on her list of schools to attend!!! She will be visiting Oakton Community College in the near future.

First year student in the program, Megan Caradine, got accepted into Allen University in South Carolina and by December 15th she will know if she was accepted into her number one school of choice, Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. She has also applied to UIC, SIU, and a number of other schools.

The Cabrini Connections' staff would like to congratulate these three students on their accomplishments, but we would also like to thank those who have assisted in making these accomplishments take place; mentors Jen Jozwik (Vontesha), Sandra Lee (Alexis), and Liz Sablich (Megan) for all of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the success of their students and for assisting with carrying out the mission and goals of the program. THANK YOU!

We would also like to thank the College Zone Coordinators; Stephanie Rogers, Carla Reyes, Katie Nolan, and newcomer Sue Gill! Thank you for your guidance and all of your assistance! And we also would like to thank the parents and family members of the students.

We are truly proud of these accomplishments, but we all know this is just one of the many steps to success, and its going to take more hard work, dedication, and support to get these youth and many more to the next level on their road to success. Please make an effort to be a tutor/mentor, a supporter, and a donor so that we can continue to provide these type of success stories.

~HOPE, BUILD, BELIEVE, AND ACHIEVE~

And The Winner Is....Cabrini Connections!!!

In the NFL's history, the present, and in the future, there will players and coaches who do it for the money, fame, and/or the love of the game. And when I say "it" that refers to the hard practices, the long film sessions, the abundant amount of travel, the injuries, and all other 'sacrifices' that those involved in the NFL take on as being a part of the game of football that many have grown to love over the years.

I'm not 100% sure, but I would say that there are some that do it for the money, some who do it for the fame, some that do it for the love of the game, and many who do it for a combination of those three. There are many advantages to being a coach and a player in the National Football League. There is the money, the cars, the opportunity to play a sport that many have played since they were youth, and amongst other advantages is the type of plaques, trophies, and incentives are provided to those who become some of the best in the game.

The Cabrini Connections' organizations strives day in and day out to be considered one of the best programs in the tutoring/mentoring league. We try to recruit the players (students) and coaches(volunteers and staff) that our team needs, we make sure our facility is a safe and attractive environment at all times, and then week in and week out we try to get "one day better" as individuals, as a team, and as an overall organization so that we are not only attracting more and more fans (donors and supporters) but so that we can be considered one of the best in the league. And as the Head Coach of the Cabrini Connections' program I am extremely proud to announce that we were considered one of THE BEST!!!

At the Delegate Agency Recognition Luncheon that took place at the Parkway Ballroom on Tuesday December 1st, the Cabrini Connections' program was recognized "for Outstanding Performance in the Youth Development for the 2008-2009." We were recognized for having over 90% attendance for our students and volunteers, for our ability to utilize the funds that they city provides us effectively, and for our ability to complete our documentation completely and punctually!

So while many do it for the money, fame, or the love of the game, the Cabrini Connections' organization does it for a combination of all three. The most important reason why we do the work that we do is because we love to provide those in our program and throughout the world with the resources needed to be successful in and outside of the program, and in the present and in the future. And because of that love for the 'game,' we hope our work continues to be recognized by future players, prospective coaches, and tutoring/mentoring fans! And as a result of that recognition we hope that our players and coaches will find ways to support the organization now and when they become alumni of the program. And those fans (donors and other supporters) will continue to recognize and admire the work that we are doing and not only continue to support our organization, but will reach out to others to become fans as well!!!

I want to personally thank Monica Dunleavey-Gerster for the nomination, the committee who selected our program, and each and every staff, students, volunteer, parent, board member, and donor/supporter who contributed to this recognition.

~THANK YOU~