On April 13, a special event was held to announce the Mission and Mercy Service Trip Endowment.
The mission of this endowment is to offer financial assistance to Saint Xavier students who are interested in participating in any number of Saint Xavier sponsored service trips, such as the Belize service trip.
The endowment, currently at $37,000, is looking to raise additional funds by December 31. These additional funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 by Donald Fricker, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Saint Xavier University.
Students, faculty, or staff interested in making a donation can do so by visiting www.sxu.edu/give. You then select the “Make a Gift” tab, and select “Mission and Mercy Service Trip Endowment” under the Designation drop down menu.
While at a gathering to celebrate the Mission and Mercy endowment, Fricker, took some time to share some information about the endowment and how it will help students going on the service trip in the future.
Fricker explains how much money is involved in the endowment, and how this amount will help students in future years to pay for this service trip.
The Mission and Mercy Service trip endowment “has just been endowed, it has $37,000, meaning it will be here year after year to be shared by the students. It really is to assist SXU students in defraying costs associated with service trips, such as the one to Belize, or others that involve significant expenses for our students,” said Fricker.
Although the endowment will offer students aid when it comes to the service trips, there is always room for greater donations. Students and faculty also have the opportunity to donate to this endowment, and Fricker explains how they can do this by visiting Saint Xavier University’s donor website and searching for the Belize endowment.
If a student is interested in donating to the cause, “there’s a pull-down menu on the giving site, to give to this particular endowment. They’ll find the name, Mission and Mercy Service Trip Endowment, right under the pull-down site for giving. The foundation will notify me, and it will be matched dollar per dollar for 2015,” said Fricker.
According to Matt Stevenson, former University Hall Minister at Saint Xavier and co-founder of the Belize service trip, Belize was not the original destination. It wasn’t until a few events occurred that they were heading to Belize.
“Belize was chosen because seven days before we were leaving for the original trip to Guyana, somewhat of a […] war broke out, and the state department issued a no-travel warning. With that, Sister Sue [Sanders], and Sister Joy [Clough], said that [the trip] was still going to happen, [to] hold tight, and a few months later, we were on our way to Belize,” said Stevenson.
Stevenson describes his experiences with the Belize Service trip, and says that it was a meaningful experience. With help from the endowment, other students have the opportunity to experience this trip.
“It was something that I really wanted to do…. It was my final farewell, and something that I’m beyond honoured, and humbled, [to see] that something like this is still existing,” said Stevenson.
Saint Xavier’s President, Christine M. Wiseman was also in attendance to celebrate the endowment, speaking on behalf of Fricker. Without the work done by Fricker, SXU would have never received the endowment.
“As president, I’m here tonight to acknowledge the work of a wonderful faculty member, who has really modelled the mercy charisma, who’s made it possible for our students to really understand what it means to support human dignity and the common good by endowing the service trips that will permit them to intentionally live that experience and perpetuity,” said Wiseman.
Also in attendance was Debbie Shell.Shell, Honorary Council General for Belize in Chicago, expressed her ideas on why it is important to participate with a service trip, and how it will help people in need.
“Belize is a relatively small country, the population is about 340,000, but there’s a lot of need there, especially in some of the rural areas, so we’re always extremely appreciative of people who come down and help and assist with this, so we’re really grateful for that,” said Shell.
Students who attend these trips all have different experiences, but each person comes back with useful knowledge, and a great feeling that they have given back to people who truly need it. With the new endowment, there are hopes that more students can participate in such service, and give back to their worldly neighbours.
“I think a lot of the testimonies here tonight from the students who have been there [exemplify that] it’s really a personal journey that you take, and it’s so satisfying. [It’s] definitely something that you carry with you for the rest of your life, and a lot of times, sparks the way you live your life and how you’re able to give back to the world,” said Shell.
During the month of May, select Saint Xavier University students will travel to Belize for the yearly International Mercy Service Trip.
Students on this trip will build homes for people in need, and experience both a new environment, and the importance of giving back to people who are less fortunate than themselves.
Julie Gardner
News Editor
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