[In the photo above, Scholarship Program Coordinator, Rosalia Cabrera is congratulated by Donna Walton together with seminarian and scholarship student (2018 and 2019) Jose Humberto Rodriquez M.]
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM by Rosalia Cabrera
My participation in the Amigos Anonymous Scholarship Program effectively began when, in 1978, Fr. Joe asked me to take charge of some students at a private school run by nuns (Colegio Guanajuato), whose contact was Judith Towner, and who lived in Apaseo married to Antonio Oliveros.
Fr. Joe requested my involvement because he did not know either the students or the nuns, and I didn't receive any information about them either. At this time I was living in Mexico City, so on my return to Apaseo in October of that year, I began to investigate about who the students were - the four of them were in elementary school. The following year, Fr. Joe, who visited Judith every year, informed her of my involvement in the project so that it could grow. At that time, I worked at a public middle school (Secundaria Tecnica Numero 8) at which the majority of the students came from rural communities and from needy families.
Fr. Joe continued his annual visits to my house where we celebrated the Eucharist together with the scholarship students and some of their families. At each visit, Fr. Joe gave me a check and I would give him a list of expenses. During some of these years [1995 to 2002], Mike and Lupita Miller always accompanied Fr. Joe on his visits.
With the passing of time, Fr. Joe's health was failing, until the point where he could no longer make the visits (1). It was then when I began sending the budgets to Sets Amann. The program was strengthened beginning in 2013 under the guidance of Jack and Donna Walton and with the 50th anniversary of the Amigos Anonymous.
The Amigos' representatives and I continue to meet annually with the students who share their school experiences. I meet with the students monthly and they receive from me career orientation and encouragement to complete their studies.
1. Note: After Fr. Joe passed away at the end of 2006, a group of Amigos, led by Terry and Deci Dugan, met and incorporated Amigos Anonymous as a non-profit, 501c(3), the main purpose and mission being to carry on the work of the Scholarship Program, receiving tax-deductible donations and continuing to work with Rosalia to support worthy students, naming the program, "The Fr. Joseph O'Looney Amigos Anonymous Scholarship Program".
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM by Rosalia Cabrera
My participation in the Amigos Anonymous Scholarship Program effectively began when, in 1978, Fr. Joe asked me to take charge of some students at a private school run by nuns (Colegio Guanajuato), whose contact was Judith Towner, and who lived in Apaseo married to Antonio Oliveros.
Fr. Joe requested my involvement because he did not know either the students or the nuns, and I didn't receive any information about them either. At this time I was living in Mexico City, so on my return to Apaseo in October of that year, I began to investigate about who the students were - the four of them were in elementary school. The following year, Fr. Joe, who visited Judith every year, informed her of my involvement in the project so that it could grow. At that time, I worked at a public middle school (Secundaria Tecnica Numero 8) at which the majority of the students came from rural communities and from needy families.
Fr. Joe continued his annual visits to my house where we celebrated the Eucharist together with the scholarship students and some of their families. At each visit, Fr. Joe gave me a check and I would give him a list of expenses. During some of these years [1995 to 2002], Mike and Lupita Miller always accompanied Fr. Joe on his visits.
With the passing of time, Fr. Joe's health was failing, until the point where he could no longer make the visits (1). It was then when I began sending the budgets to Sets Amann. The program was strengthened beginning in 2013 under the guidance of Jack and Donna Walton and with the 50th anniversary of the Amigos Anonymous.
The Amigos' representatives and I continue to meet annually with the students who share their school experiences. I meet with the students monthly and they receive from me career orientation and encouragement to complete their studies.
1. Note: After Fr. Joe passed away at the end of 2006, a group of Amigos, led by Terry and Deci Dugan, met and incorporated Amigos Anonymous as a non-profit, 501c(3), the main purpose and mission being to carry on the work of the Scholarship Program, receiving tax-deductible donations and continuing to work with Rosalia to support worthy students, naming the program, "The Fr. Joseph O'Looney Amigos Anonymous Scholarship Program".