I am a senior at St. Mary's Academy who is very concerned about the future of the New Orleans community. As we all know, poverty and violence among teenagers is a big problem. We need real solutions to help make our city a better educated and safer place. St. Mary's Academy has been a part of the solution for 149 years.

It has graduated thousands of students who have become leaders in every walk of life across the globe. Many of the leaders of our local community are St. Mary’s alumnae. I am asking that you help sustain the tradition of excellence for which St. Mary’s is known by making a contribution by placing an ad in my Debutante Ball ad book.

St. Mary’s is a private school located in New Orleans East. It mostly serves a population of low-income students whose families struggle to provide a high-quality education for their children. The school has a co-ed pre-kindergarten to 7th grade program and an all-female 8th-12th grade program. St. Mary’s was traditionally an all-girls high school, but expanded its offerings after Hurricane Katrina to help the families that were looking for a place to send their children to school. While the school depends on tuition to survive, many families cannot afford the cost. I am asking you to help so that these families can keep their children in a great school like St. Mary’s.

My purpose for writing this letter is two-fold. When I graduate in May 2017, I want to leave a legacy of service to my school that will result in helping our entire community. I also wish to be part of the solution to our problems. If I can help the school raise money, I will accomplish these goals. A contribution to St. Mary’s is an investment in our youth that will pay off for all of us. This request is also part of a contest. The student who raises the most money for the school will become Debutante Queen this spring. Debutante is a tradition at St. Mary’s that celebrates the elegance of all of our seniors. I am asking that you purchase an ad in my program book for the Ball, which will be held in April 2017.

Thank you very much for your consideration to support St. Mary’s Academy. If you choose to support the school, you may make a gift below by clicking on the ad level of your choice or you may call my dad, Mr. Marc Barnes, at 504-430-0860 to make another donation amount not listed .

Sincerely,

Caitlin M. Barnes
St. Mary’s Academy class of 2017