Fontbonne Students Lend Talents to Hopeful Connections

Fontbonne Academy students lent their talents and time to painting votive candles over the Thanksgiving break for an organization called Hopeful Connections.   Fontbonne Academy’s Director of Guidance, Maura Spignesi, and her husband, John, started the organization to help families access the support they need when faced with a pregnancy or early infant loss as well as provide education regarding pregnancy loss.   The Spignesi family had experienced a loss themselves, and wanted to offer support to others.  Starting Hopeful Connections was a way to help, and their website www.hopefulconnections.com offers resources geared to help people with their grief.

This holiday season Hopeful Connections launched a candle project, entitled "I Live in Your Light."   Families who have experienced a loss will receive a hand painted votive candle with their baby's name on it to light in remembrance of their child.  Through Maura’s work at Fontbonne, the Fontbonne Academy art students gladly volunteered to paint the votives.

“Thanks to the direction of art teacher, Mrs. Robertson, and to the fabulous art students, the candles are ready to be sent. They are beautiful, so thoughtfully done, and the love our students put into making them shines through,” said Ms. Spignesi. “I am truly inspired by the thoughtfulness of our students. They spent their time over Thanksgiving vacation painting these votives--a true service to the families who will be comforted by their gift this season. This is real outreach to our dear neighbors.  I am so proud to work with these young women.”