Giving Is About Making A Difference

GIVING IS ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
(Lisle) - Joe and Michelle Shannon have been active parishioners and school parents at St. Joan of Arc for over 15 years. Their six children attended St. Joan of Arc School, five of whom have already graduated, and are still giving back to our community.
For the past 11 years, Joe and his wife Michelle have hosted a Christmas party at a local establishment for Joe’s law firm, The Shannon Law Group. They invite hundreds of clients, friends, and St. Joan of Arc alumni to this fantastic event. The guests are asked to make a donation of any amount to either the St. Joan of Arc Adopt-A-Student Fund or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The St. Joan of Arc Adopt-A-Student Fund is a need-based program that provides tuition assistance to families attending our wonderful school. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides financial and material assistance to local individuals and families who are having a hard time making ends meet.
This past Christmas, during their party at Quigley’s Irish Pub, the Shannon’s guests donated over $20,000 to the St. Joan of Arc Adopt-A-Student Fund, and $8,500 to the
St. Vincent de Paul Society. Over the years, they have donated over $123,000 total to both causes.
Recently, Joe has added three St. Joan of Arc alumni to the Shannon Law Group team: Jon Svitak, Pat Cummings and Ashleigh Zurek. Jon and Pat are attorneys for the firm and Ashleigh is a paralegal. These three wonderful young adults visited St. Joan of Arc School during Catholic Schools Week to present the funds raised at this year’s party to Michelle Picchione, interim Principal, and Jane Svitak, 8th grade teacher.
"Since 1999, we have entrusted St. Joan of Arc School with our most precious gifts...our children. This parish and this school have made a huge impact on the faith life of our family. We are grateful to all the teachers and staff of this one of a kind school. I am the 9th of 10 children. My parents sent me to Catholic schools, and the parish helped our family out. I am forever grateful” said Joe Shannon.
“To those to whom much is given, much is expected. God has given our family a lot. He just asks us all to give back a small portion of what we have been given. We live in a very generous community. When we decided to host a Christmas party and ask our friends, family and clients to help out St. Joan of Arc Adopt a Student Fund and St. Vincent de Paul, our generous community has responded each and every year."
The Shannons’ story illustrates that giving is not just about making a donation… it is about making a difference. After hosting eleven Christmas parties, the Shannons' and their guests have helped numerous families attend St. Joan of Arc School, and gave hope to many local families in need. Their love for this Catholic community has touched so many other lives as well. St. Joan of Arc has been so very blessed by the Shannon Family.