What is SSAFI?
ST. SCHOLASTICAS ALUMNAE FOUNDATION, INC. is a non-stock, non-profit organization of St. Scholastica’s College alumnae. It exists primarily for the alumnae, the priory and the school, to be of assistance to alumnae in various aspects and during difficult times, to support the priory in its outreach projects and advocacies and to be active in promoting the school and its mission.
HISTORY OF SSAFI
St. Scholastica's Alumnae Association (SSAA) started sometime between 1920-1930, upholding a thrust of fostering unity among its members with emphasis on the role it played in supporting the school's policies. Through the years it embarked on various activities like continuing education for alumnae, retreats and recollections and eventually started to generate funds for calamities, and funds to support retired nuns and scholars under the management of St. Scholastica’s Research & Development Foundation (SSRDF).
In the late seventies, the National Confederation of Alumnae Association of Catholic Education (NCAACEP) motivated SSAA to make all alumnae aware of their social responsibility and inspired to become an apostolate for the poor. In 1983, St. Scholastica's Alumnae Lifeline Team (SSALT) was born and its first projects were livelihood, medical-dental and scholarship progrmas to neighboring residents who lived below the poverty line. To be able to sustain itself and get involved in more fundraising activities, a need to reactivate the association as a foundation was done by its board in 1991. Thus, the St. Scholastica's Alumnae Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI) was officially born. The move to the formation of the foundation allowed for a more formal structuring of the association (systems for elections, meeting, etc.). The constitution formed by the late Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma and the board at that time was identified to guarantee a continuous flow of operations.
To this day, SSAFI has been actively organizing fundraising activities. One of the main donors is those alumnae batch celebrating Silver Jubilee annually through voluntary donations as a form of “giving-back” to their alma mater.
SSAFI CHARITY PROGRAMS
As of the first quarter of 2017, SSAFI has named ten (10) beneficiaries in which they give assistance to:
CHILD OF A SCHOLASTICAN
A scholarship program for daughters of Scholastican alumnae who have suffered financial set-backs that might cause to interrupt their studies in SSC Manila. In order to avert such unfortunate situation, SSAFI pledges to provide funds for the continuation of their studies, subject to certain guidelines.
BLUE FRIENDSHIPS FOREVER (BFF)
This fund aims to extend medical and/or financial assistance to SSAFI members with health-related needs. The program assists Scholasticans and refer them to medical institutions such as the Phil. Charity Sweepstakes, PGH, Phil. Cancer Society, etc., as well as recommend them to doctors who are SSAFI members giving free consultations.
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
This program gives financial and physical assistance to encourage learning, breed development and support training of promising youth athletes in the field of sports. Likewise, SSAFI contributes to the school's Sports Scholarship program to outstanding athletes upon the endorsement and recommendation of the Student Affairs Office and approval of the College Scholarship and Grants Committee.
(Photo grabbed from http://ssc.edu.ph)
CHAIRS OF MOTHER ANGELICA
In honor of the late Mother Angelica Leviste OSB, former SSC President, SSAFI pledges to continue supporting her dream project --the provision of chairs for the newly constructed auditorium in St. Scholastica’s College, Marikina.
(Photo grabbed from St. Scholastica Marikina Official Website)
ST. SCHOLASTICA CENTER OF SPIRITUALITY
SSAFI has pledged a yearly fixed amount to add to the funds for spiritual formation of some select public school students.
(Photos grabbed from http://ito.ssc.edu.ph/stschocenter/)
PAMBUJAN MISSION HOSPITAL
Situated in Barangay Cababtua-an, Pambujan, Northern Samar, a mission hospital, operated by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, has been built in response to the community's critical need, specifically serving as the last stop of the dying poor or a morgue for the dead poor. SSAFI is one of the frontline supporters giving regular financial aid for its sustainability.
(Photos courtesy of Pambujan Mission Facebook page)
ST. BENEDICT’S HOME FOR RETIRED SISTERS
This shelter is housing sick and elderly sisters of St. Scholastica' Priory since year 2000 and SSAFI has been giving financial assistance for their sustenance and medical needs.
(Photos grabbed from http://ito.ssc.edu.ph/priory/sbh%20com.htm)
CHRISTMAS GIFT-GIVING
A traditional giving away of pails containing groceries and other Noche Buena goods to about 500-600 recipients coming from the families of the service personnel of the school (i.e. manongs, manangs, security, night secondary students, etc.) and some select barangays within the vicinity of St. Scholastica’s College.
TULUYAN NI SAN BENITO
A temporary haven in the daytime, a place where the homeless or “kariton” people could rest awhile, wash themselves and their clothes, use the bathroom and even cook meals. SSAFI helps the Benedictine Sisters in seeing through its vision of building a community where every family / individual earns enough to meet basic needs, aware of their dignity as persons and participates in the building of God’s kingdom where justice, peace and integrity of creation prevail, as well as its mission of offering opportunities for formation, leadership and skills training for the economic upliftment of street families that will help them regain self respect and rehabilitation by financial aid.
(Photos grabbed from http://ssc.edu.ph/outreach-and-advocacies/tuluyan-shelter-for-street-families/)
NIGHT SECONDARY SCHOOL
Young girls from the impoverished area of barangay 745 & 746 near SSC Manila are sent to the St. Scholastica's Night Secondary School for high scool education and other livelihood courses, i.e. dress-making, doll-making, basic computer, typing, book-keeping and accounting. SSAFI provides scholarship assistance by means of tuition fee, school supplies and uniform subsidies to students appointed by SSC Manila Administration.
SSAFI does not cease to add more beneficiaries to its list. Each year, the board of directors update their programs according to the demand of priority. They continue to ask for pledges from all Scholastican alumnae by producing their own fundraising activities, as well as supporting jubilarians' programs towards each year's homecoming event.
Sources:
http://ssc.edu.ph/alumnae/index.html
http://ito.ssc.edu.ph/priory/sbh%20com.htm
http://ssc.edu.ph/outreach-and-advocacies/
PAX Official Publication February 2016
By Chicky Hernandez
SSCHS1994 VP Internal
