Service and social outreach is a way of life at Pius XI High School. It is one of our hallmarks that helps young people build identity, prepare for the challenges of the future and live lives as change agents in their communities. At Pius XI, students willingly help others at school, in the community and around the world
Each year, Campus Ministry coordinates a Thanksgiving Drive – now a long-standing tradition which has made Pius’ philanthropic spirit well-known in the area. The objective of the Thanksgiving Drive is to create true relationships with local charities in an effort not only to assist them by collecting donations, but to continue to actively serve them long after the Drive is complete. Among the organizations we’ve come to hold dear are: Transitional Living Services (since ’96), Repairers of the Breach (’01), DAYSTAR (’05), LaCausa Crisis Nursery and this past year’s benefactors, Pathfinders.
We are grateful for the significant impact we’ve been able to have on these agencies. We have received student-written grants to build playgrounds, decks, renovate a kitchen, and redo electrical work. We’ve raised enough money to purchase a 15-passenger van, obtain major appliances, exercise equipment, books, and toys, and we’ve literally collected truckloads of supplies, clothing and food.
In addition, through the efforts of Campus Ministry, Pius has hosted a Christmas party for the past 20 years for 150-200 beneficiaries of Transitional Living Services. And this is the fourth year Pius students have supplied more than 300 Christmas presents for the Milwaukee Volunteer Center’s Annual Giving Tree Program.
Testimonial:
“During the summer of 2006, student and parent volunteers from Pius XI High School helped to remodel the kitchen and give other rooms a face-lift. Volunteers spent many hours cleaning, painting and making large and small repairs in the kitchen, TV room, and other rooms.
“They installed shelving for storage of supplies and helped with yard work. They also helped to remodel the arts room in the basement, providing residents with a place for creative outlets as well as a secondary meeting room.
“We thank all of our wonderful volunteers from the extended Pius XI community for their hard work!”
– Daystar Annual Report (2006)