From Cuba to a Brighter Future: How Your Support Shaped Sammy Cintra’s Journey
April 30th, 2026
At our 36th Annual Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala, the room was filled with energy, hope, and gratitude. The highlight of the evening was hearing directly from those whose lives have been fundamentally changed by your generosity. For decades, our community of donors has stepped up to change lives.
When alumnus Sammy Cintra took the stage, he did not just give a speech. He brought the entire room into his journey. He took us back to the moment he arrived in Boston from Cuba at just ten years old. He spoke of the daunting, beautiful, and challenging path of pursuing his dreams.
Through every twist and turn, Sammy shared, the Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF) was right beside him.
Sammy’s story is a living example of what happens when opportunity meets investment. He looked out at the crowd and asked his fellow CSF alumni to stand. In that quiet, powerful moment, the room saw the tangible fruit of their generosity.
"We are the result of an education that is not only intentional but directional..."
This line from Sammy’s speech captures the core of the CSF mission. Your support does not just a scholarship. It provides a directional map for kids who arrive with big dreams but limited means.
Because of you, 4,300 children from all backgrounds are placed in safe, nurturing, and structured environments. They are put in front of the right mentors who can guide them toward their God-given purpose.
The metrics of this investment speak for themselves:
A perfect 100% high school graduation rate.
A nearly perfect college matriculation rate at 98%.
Thousands of young leaders ready to build a better world.
As Sammy noted when thanking champions Rachel and Travis Rhodes, the impact made by our donor community stretches far beyond a single school year. The returns on this investment truly are infinite.
Help write the next success story.
Your generosity makes stories like Sammy’s possible, opening doors to Catholic education, confidence, and lifelong opportunity. Support a CSF student today.
Your Gift Changes Lives!
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