Barat Foundation Makes its First Awards  
  
A new, student-run philanthropic organization at Convent of the Sacred Heart awarded grants totaling $3,600 to four community groups serving children in need on May 23 in a ceremony at the School.

The foundation was established last fall and this was the first time it presented awards.  The recipients for 2005 are: 

• $1,000 to City Squash, Bronx, N.Y. to fund an afterschool tutoring and sports program for sixth and eighth graders.   The grant will expand the program creating more opportunities for children in need. 
• $1,000 to the Summer Academy of Convent of the Sacred Heart, an annual tutoring and activity program for children from low-income families operated on the campus.
• $1,100 to Head Start, Mount Kisco, N.Y. to sponsor educational field trips for underprivileged pre-school children. 
• $500 to the Cerebral Palsy Center of Westchester County for pool supplies to aid children at the Jimmy Vejar Summer Camp. 

In her remarks at the ceremony, Upper School Head Jayne Collins praised the work of the foundation and thanked Lawrence Lunt, a parent and a member of the School's Board of Trustees.  Mr. Lunt serves on the foundation's board and his fundraising expeditions to the North Pole in 2004 and the Himalayas in April have helped to focus attention on the foundation and to raise money for the endowment.  The grants were made from the principal earned by the endowment.     

Checks were presented to: Lisa Lyons of the Summer Academy (first row, right) ; Linda McCauley of Jimmy Vejar Day Camp at Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (second from right); Linda Bremner of Mt. Kisco Head Start (third from right); Brian Methias of City Squash (first row at left).  In the back row, standing between the student board members of the foundation is  Lawrence Lunt.