Each year, the Big Shoulders Fund coordinates a Christmas Project where students from their partner schools create ornaments - one to be placed on the Christmas tree given to His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., and two to be distributed to Board members and major supporters as a thank you. In addition, this year students created crèches displaying a manger scene reflecting the culture and tradition of their school which will be displayed at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA).

Big Shoulders, an organization whose mission is to provide support to the Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago, has been one of San Miguel's biggest supporters over the last decade, and their involvement comes in a variety of forms.

Their grantmaking initiatives include the Patrons Program as well as annual support for San Miguel's Extended Day Program and Professional Development for Teachers. Beyond providing grant funds each year, Big Shoulders encourages collaboration between its partner schools by sharing best practices through training workshops, which they host.

In addition to providing middle school scholarships, Big Shoulders also helps San Miguel graduates by giving them more high school options through their coordination of scholarship opportunities to attend Catholic high schools. They are also partners in highlighting the Catholic school community to a wider audience. Their marketing and events help to showcase what is happening in small schools like San Miguel across Chicago.

San Miguel appreciates the strong partnership and consistent support that the Big Shoulders Fund has provided over the years, not only to our schools, but also to the wider Catholic school community.

Pictured at right is Tom Zbierski of Big Shoulders Fund with some scholarship recipients from the Gary Comer Campus.