Fairfield Prep is once again joining fellow Jesuit high schools in the Great Ignatian Challenge Food Drive to raise awareness of hunger in our communities, while filling local food banks and pantries with tens of thousands of pounds of much-needed provisions for needy families. 

Fifteen Jesuit high schools from seven states – New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia - have announced the launch of the sixth annual Great Ignatian Challenge, an annual holiday food drive competition intended to raise the students’ awareness of hunger and inspire them to take action by working to feed the hungry in their communities. This friendly but spirited competition will run from now through November 24. Last year, the schools participating in the Challenge collected and distributed over 168,372 pounds of food. Over the past five years, the Great Ignatian Challenge has collected and distributed over 302 TONS of food!.

The greater Prep Community may donate by bringing goods to school, or by purchasing goods through our donation page YouGiveGoods.com. 

NOTE: Each student is requested to donate 26 ITEMS to reach our goal. Canned and non-perishable goods are requested (No Ramen noodles please).

DoNATE ONLINE TODAY!

About the Great Ignatian Challenge

Fordham Prep alumnus, Jim Rowen, will once again personally pledge $450,000 to support the schools’ efforts. The fifteen schools will compete for tiered awards based on criteria identified by Mr. Rowen, including the most amount of food collected per student.  This year, monies will go towards supporting financial assistance programs and endowments at the participating schools. Inspired by the commitment to social justice and service to the community that lies at the heart of Jesuit education, Mr. Rowen has generously donated more than $1,300,000 towards the Great Ignatian Challenge competitions over the last five years. His desire is to open this competition up to even more schools next year.

This year the participating schools are:

·         Boston College High School (Boston, MA)

·         Canisius High School (Buffalo, NY)

·         Cheverus High School (Portland, ME) 

·         Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield, CT) 

·         Fordham Preparatory School (The Bronx)

·         Georgetown Prep (Washington, DC)

·         Gonzaga College High School (Washington, DC)

·         Loyola School (Manhattan)

·         Loyola Blakefield (Towson, MD)

·         McQuaid Jesuit (Rochester, NY)

·         Regis High School (Manhattan)

·         St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, PA)

·         Saint Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, NJ)

·         Scranton Prep (Scranton, PA)

·         Xavier High School (Manhattan)

The schools are all sponsored by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Challenge derives its name from the 16th-century saint, Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, who taught, "Love consists of sharing what one has and what one is with those one loves. Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words."