Mission Grammar School is an urban, college-prep, Catholic School dedicated to reaching individual excellence in a faith-based community rooted in Gospel values. ThinkGive is proud to partner with Mission Grammar School to deliver impactful social and emotional learning (SEL) programming to students. We asked educators and students to reflect on their ThinkGive experience—here’s what they shared.
Educator: Angela Sanzari
Grades: 3-4
Location: Boston, MA
Began partnership with ThinkGive: 2020
Impact of ThinkGive on Students: “ThinkGive works really well because it is student-driven. I have the prompts, but it’s a moment for the students’ voices and opinions to be heard and shared. They feel in control, and therefore are excited and engaged.”
Highlights of the ThinkGive Experience: “We have one student who struggles socially, in terms of conflict and feeling like someone may be upset with them. Through ThinkGive, we’ve explored problem-solving, the importance of our words, and how to process these feelings and move forward. The student joined a sports team, and a moment of conflict arose. The student was able to pause, take a deep breath, and communicate, ‘I am mad at you right now, but not forever. I still want positive things in your life and to build our friendship, but right now, this isn’t working for me.’”
Survey Results: After participating in ThinkGive, students reported significant improvements in their social and emotional skills:
100% felt more connected with their peers, friends, teachers, families, and community.
100% reported being kinder to others.
100% felt more confident in their ability to make a positive impact in their world.
Student Voices: Here’s what some students had to say about their ThinkGive experience:
“I feel excited about expressing my emotions. We get to learn new things, and I act like a leader.”
“Now I act differently because I stand up for my classmates when something goes wrong.”
“When one person is kind, it spreads like a ripple.”
Minna Kim, ThinkGive Program Coordinator, shared her reflections on the partnership:
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mission Grammar School for the past two years, building on a strong six-year partnership between our organizations. I first met Angela in person during a 2024 site visit, and it was both uplifting and rejuvenating to see ThinkGive in action with the 2nd- and 3rd-graders. Angela’s preparedness and joy were evident as students eagerly engaged in the activities and shared their experiences.
Last year, Mission Grammar expanded ThinkGive programming to include K-1st grades, and Angela thoughtfully adapted the lessons to meet the needs of younger students, making the most of the resources available. As an organization, we were honored to have Angela speak at our spring Glow for Giving Gala, where she highlighted our partnership and showcased her incredible commitment to the Mission Grammar community. I’m excited to continue this collaboration and to see the lasting impact of our six-year partnership grow even further!”
Mission Grammar School is a recipient of the SEL for Every Child Fund, which provides full funding to implement ThinkGive’s SEL programming. If your school/organization serves a majority of under-resourced youth and lacks funding for SEL initiatives, find out if you qualify at thinkgiveproject.org/fund.
