St. Thomas Aquinas (STA), an IMS school in South Philadelphia, received help from the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) to help repaint the school’s facilities. In conjunction with TMF’s annual gala, they conduct philanthropic activities in their yearly celebration. This year, they chose to help STA.
On March 18, a crew composed of TMF volunteers, STA parents, scholars, and staff worked together to paint the school cafeteria. The activity was led by two longtime TMF leaders who are coincidentally brothers, Terrance and Jim Finnegan. Their industrial painting company donated time and labor to the effort. While Sherwin William donated paint and supplies.
TMF is a non-profit organization that creates programs, training opportunities, and events designed to empower veterans, families of the fallen, and their community. This is not the first time TMF helped STA. In 2017, TMF brought a number of activities to STA to bring awareness to its ethos, “If not me, then who.”
With STA’s current partnership with Police Youth Alliance/Families Behind the Badge, STA got reconnected with TMF which brought this wonderful project to the school. Police Youth Alliance/Families Behind the Badge has been a partner of STA for a number of years. Families Behind the Badge is an organization that provides financial relief for the families of fallen or critically injured first responders. They strive to assist the communities they serve to make a great impact on the future of the next generation.
The following Monday, STA’s scholars were all smiles when they saw the freshly repainted cafeteria. One student said, “The lunchroom looks great! It makes me want to stay here all the time.” Asked what a student thinks about the new look she said, “This is beautiful. It looks bright and welcoming.”
Principal Sharon McCloskey thanks TMF and its members for donating their resources and services to STA and its students.