Letters of Compassion History

Letters of Compassion is a group of students committed to global awareness and social justice through advocacy, fundraising, and education.   The St. Pius X High School Letters of Compassion Group was founded in the fall of 2006 by Jillian Meriweather (Class of 2007).  It was her concerns regarding genocide, world poverty, and suffering that led to the formation of Letters of Compassion.  Upon her graduation, three co-founding members: Co-Presidents Mallory and Meredith O'Malley and Officer Stephanie Mueller (All Class of 2010) assumed the leadership of the group.

Under their leadership, the Letters of Compassion began to raise awareness about the genocide in Darfur and to raise funds to build a school in South Sudan.   Over two generations of Southern Sudanese have had no education due to the devastations of civil war and genocide, and 85 percent of the population is illiterate.

Letters of Compassion joined former NBA player and Sudanese Manute Bol (who passed away June 19, 2010, at the age of forty-seven), in an effort to build a school in Turalei, South Sudan, as there was a shared belief feel that education was the key to unlock the future of the children of Sudan. Formerly, over 300 students and 5 teachers would have class under a tree in the village of Turalei. During the rainy season, there would be no school.   

With the support of their faculty advisor, Mr. Ron Scrogham and the entire St. Pius X High School community, the group raised $15,000 for The Manute Bol School Project through a variety of fund raisers.  Letters of Compassion received a $1000 grant from truehero.org for the Manute Bol School Project.   Construction has been completed for the school.

When asked the reason why the SPX students are energized to see this project through, Mallory O'Malley, commented, "There is one reason that truly stands out, five days a week we are able to attend a school with four walls and a roof, we are able to learn in a safe and comfortable environment, we are offered endless amounts of opportunities to insure us bright futures, in Turalei, however, this is unfortunately not the case."

"Because we believe that education is the key to a prosperous and peaceful future this is the most meaningful gift that we can possibly help give to the children in the village of Turalei," stated Meredith O'Malley.