The G7 team presenting their check to President of Cristo Ray High School, Sister Eileen Enright, RSM.

Earlier this month, six local high school seniors: Cat Brown, Corinne Friend, Emily Pons, Kate Costa, Missy Rhiel (not pictured) and Sara Chierazi (not pictured) presented Cristo Rey High School (CR) with a check for over $3,800. Cristo Rey is a unique high school that provides an affordable Catholic, college preparatory education to students from low-income families in Sacramento.
The group goes by the official name of the G-7. It was formed four years ago while the girls were still in the eighth grade with the following mission: to create opportunities of hope, promote the well-being of others and be ambassadors of good will as well as agents of change.
Raising funds to help others has been a constant for the G 7. However, they have shown an understanding of the need for assistance both at home and outside the country.  More importantly, they have taken the initiative to put their mission into action.
Last August, the group traveled to the tiny rural community of Los Platanos in Argentina. Located about 45 miles outside of Buenos Aires, the village is quite poor. The goal of this visit was to assist The Maria Ward School, a remarkable institution operated by Catholic Nuns. It lacks many of the essentials needed to operate a school for children ages 3 to 18. While bunking with local host families for one week, the girls taught English, PE and Math classes, volunteered at a retirement home and assisted with various repair jobs for the K-12th grade school.
In addition to donating their time and energy, the G7 team also came bearing gifts. Their fundraising efforts prior to arrival allowed them to donate 12 brand new I-Pads along with a check for $5,000 to help with the school’s upkeep. Sister Mary, the school principal, summed up the G7’s efforts this way:  “These girls are truly a blessing. Their friendship, kindness and dedication to helping others will not be forgotten.” For their part, the girls all came back with stories of new friends, cultural challenges and memories that will last a lifetime.
To learn more about the G7 and to make donations, please visit: www.global7.webs.com

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