...Connecting Our Past, Present & Future
HNJ Starfish Society
The Starfish Story
Early one morning
after a storm had passed by during the night a man walked alone on a
deserted stretch of beach.
The beach was littered with thousands of starfish, all of which had apparently washed up during the storm. As the man walked, he noticed ahead of him a small boy running quickly back and forth between the tide line and the water’s edge. Getting closer he realized the boy was collecting starfish one at a time and racing down to the ocean, and gently placing each creature back into the cool, calm water.
After watching a bit in silence, the man finally approached the boy and asked what he was doing. The boy seemed genuinely surprised at the question. “I’m putting these starfish back into the ocean so they won’t die”, he said. “But son,” the man replied, quickly scanning the beach, “there are thousands and thousands of starfish on the beach. You won’t even come close to collecting them all. What does it matter?”
Before the boy responded, he bent down to pick up one more starfish and promptly turned to the ocean. Looking intently at the starfish cradled in his hand, the boy answered with confidence, “it matters to this one”.
Adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley
Early one morning
after a storm had passed by during the night a man walked alone on a
deserted stretch of beach. The beach was littered with thousands of starfish, all of which had apparently washed up during the storm. As the man walked, he noticed ahead of him a small boy running quickly back and forth between the tide line and the water’s edge. Getting closer he realized the boy was collecting starfish one at a time and racing down to the ocean, and gently placing each creature back into the cool, calm water.
After watching a bit in silence, the man finally approached the boy and asked what he was doing. The boy seemed genuinely surprised at the question. “I’m putting these starfish back into the ocean so they won’t die”, he said. “But son,” the man replied, quickly scanning the beach, “there are thousands and thousands of starfish on the beach. You won’t even come close to collecting them all. What does it matter?”
Before the boy responded, he bent down to pick up one more starfish and promptly turned to the ocean. Looking intently at the starfish cradled in his hand, the boy answered with confidence, “it matters to this one”.
Adapted from “The Star Thrower” by Loren Eiseley
THE STARFISH SOCIETY: “IT MATTERS TO THIS ONE.”
In
this simple sentence lies the rational for the Starfish Society.
Bright and full of potential, students at Holy Name of Jesus
School come from hardworking and loving families, but families with
little financial means. The Starfish
Society provides much needed tuition assistance to these young
Starfish. “YOUR COMMITMENT MATTERS"
Individuals
who commit to donating $1,000 annually for a minimum of three years
will be acknowledged
as official members of The Starfish Society. As we celebrate our
school’s 100th anniversary, efforts are underway to recruit 100
Starfish Society Members who will be identified as founding members of
the Holy Name of Jesus Starfish Society. Click here to email HNJ and request that a Starfish Society Brochure be sent to your home. Thank you for helping us make a difference ONE STARFISH AT A TIME!!