Bridge to Hope
When Jorge Rodriguez ‘19 began Belen Jesuit as a sixth grader, he was determined to find a way to make a difference in the community. He discovered Bridge to Hope in 2012 and realized that the services they offer to the people of Homestead were changing lives and he wanted to be part of it.
“I knew I wanted to get involved with an organization that had a mission to help those who were struggling,” said Rodriguez. “Feeding the hungry and providing them with groceries to take home is incredibly rewarding. The more I learned about the organization, the more I wanted to help and get the word out about Bridge to Hope.”
Bridge To Hope provides services and programs designed to bridge the gap to self-sufficiency for low-income and in-crisis families through a comprehensive set of programs and services. The program raises the quality of life and standard of living, it restores dignity, and brings hope to those in need.
“Since sixth grade, I’ve encouraged my friends to volunteer with Bridge to Hope. Together we have fed countless numbers of individuals and have learned that compassion and understanding go a long way in building up people,” said Rodriguez. “My frustration is that not many people know about this great organization. However, my goal is to help change that. I”m currently producing a documentary that will bring to life their daily struggles to make ends meet and how Bridge to Hope is helping them get back on their feet.”
The documentary is slated for completion in 2019. Rodriguez is working with Belen Jesuit multimedia teacher Johnny Calderin ‘92 to see the project come to fruition and hopes to share it with the Belen community.
For more information on Bridge to Hope visit their website, www.bridgetohope.net. Students interested in joining Rodriguez to volunteer should email him at jhrodriguez19@belenwolverines.org.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.