Backstory

Cecilia Caligiuri is currently a freshman at The Pingry School. Her firm belief that even a single person's actions can have an impact on making the world a better place was what founded the Sending Support Society. Since elementary school, she was always an active participant in community service activities, but in sixth grade during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic she decided it was her time to step up. Surrounded by a world frenzied by a new virus, plagued by hate movements, and utterly divided, Cecilia realized that what the world desperately needed at this time was simply some good. Kindness, generosity, and compassion--had the world really forgotten these basic, human ideals? Her mission became to unite her community through some good deeds one step at a time, even if it couldn't be in-person right away, by founding her very own community service club called Sending Support. This club quickly grew in members as it sought to bring the community together through 'sending support' both to those who were struggling in the global community, as well as the everyday heroes who took the time out of their lives to help them. Members created cards, posters, and videos to send words of encouragement to those in need and words of thanks to the volunteers of the charitable organizations the club was partnering with, later on hosting events to raise donations to send financial aid as well. The club's meetings fluctuated from virtual to in-person as the pandemic changed what school looked like, but the members remained focused on their goal. By the end of Cecilia's time in middle school, the club had collaborated with multiple local hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, animal shelters, anti-poverty networks, and environmental organizations. After handing down the Sending Support club to her younger sister, Giulia, Cecilia decided to expand her club at the start of high school and found a real non-profit organization, the Sending Support Society. Now, the organization could connect and 'send support' to many more communities, and the rest is history!