I f you ’ re a resident of the Scarsdale area or a parishioner of the Annunciation Church – Our Lady of Fatima Parish , you may have noticed the new Saint Padre Pio Prayer Garden . The garden , located outside of Breen Hall , is the product of Christopher Iori ’ 22 ’ s Eagle Scout project .

His service work with Scouts BSA is in addition to the Christian Service requirement at Fordham Prep that he fulfilled in order to graduate in June 2022 . Students begin learning how to design and implement their own service project in freshman year , run a social justice-themed project in sophomore year , and then spend 15 hours responding to needs that exist at Fordham Prep . By senior year , students are well prepared to complete their capstone service project , which requires 70 service hours .

LEFT : Christopher Iori ’ 22 ( Clemson University ’ 26 ) transformed an empty space at Annunciation Church – Our Lady of Fatima Parish into the new Saint Padre Pio Prayer Garden .

BELOW LEFT : Westchester County Legislator James Nolan declared a day in July 2022 “ Christopher Iori Day ” in honor of completing his Eagle Scout Project .

BELOW RIGHT : Iori ( right ) and fellow Eagle Scout Andrew Sciacca ’ 20 ( left ) celebrated on the same ceremony date .

For his senior capstone project , Iori spent 20 hours helping with the school ’ s Campus Ministry Hunger Awareness Month initiatives and writing morning prayers . In the remaining 50 hours , he worked with special needs children in Ardsley Middle School ’ s Challenger Sports Program and helped bag , sort and hand out food to clients at OLMC – Elmsford Food Pantry . In completing several years of Christian Service during high school , Iori demonstrates one of the core Jesuit qualities that the Prep seeks to bring out in all its students : men for others .

Iori was able to share his Eagle Scout ceremony with another Prep alumnus , Andrew Sciacca ’ 20 .

While the garden honors its namesake , Saint Padre Pio , the project also pays tribute to Iori ’ s mother , who passed away in May 2022 .

“ I would like to dedicate my project and Eagle Scout accomplishments to my mother , Lorena Iori ,” he said . “ My mother was my number one supporter throughout my entire life , especially with achieving Eagle Scout . She was always willing to help me with anything I needed , even during her fight with cancer . I will forever appreciate her love and guidance and remember all the great memories I had with her for the rest of my life ,” he added .

Iori received the following awards and recognition at his Eagle Scout ceremony :

U . S . flag with a Certificate of Authenticity stating it was flown over the U . S . Capitol

Letter of congratulations from Charles E . Schumer , United States Senator

A proclamation signed by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano that July 24th , 2022 is Christopher Iori Day on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout

Eagle Scout Award signed by the National Chair , Honorary Chair , Chief Scout Executive / President and CEO , and the National Commissioner

Recognition from the Greater Hudson Valley Council Boy Scouts of America Executive Board signed by Mark Schivley , Algonquin District Chairman , and GHVC Board Member Br . Thomas Leto

Proclamation for exemplary service awarded by Senator Shelley B . Mayer of New York State ’ s 37th Senate District

New York State Assembly Citation recognizing his service to the people of Yonkers , awarded by Hon . Nader J . Sayegh of the New York State Assembly ( Yonkers )

Westchester County Board of Legislators Proclamation that July 27th , 2022 ( displayed on the jumbotron on July 28th ) be named “ Christopher Iori Day ” in Westchester County

Two Certificates of Achievement signed by Westchester County Executive George Latimer

Letter of congratulations from Benjamin R . Mills , Board Chair of the Boy Scouts of America Greater Hudson Valley Council

A letter of congratulations from National Chair Dan Ownby , President and CEO Roger C . Mosby , and National Commissioner Scott Sorrels of the Boy Scouts of America National Service Center

A letter of congratulations from Richard Stockton , Scout Executive / CEO of the Boy Scouts of America Greater Hudson Valley Council

Certificate of Recognition presented by Mike Breen , 5th District Chairman from the Yonkers City Council

Certificate of Appreciation signed by Lakisha Collins-Bellamy , President of Yonkers City Council

American Legion Ernest Pasqua Post # 1506 Crestwood Good Citizenship Citation ( signed by the Commandant and Adjutant )

Marine Corps League Good Citizenship Award ( signed by the Commandant and Adjutant )

WINTER 2023 VOLUME 43 , ISSUE 1

Fordham Prep - Ramview Winter 2022/Spring 2023 Vol 43 Issue 1 | Page 21

I f you ’ re a resident of the Scarsdale area or a parishioner of the Annunciation Church – Our Lady of Fatima Parish , you may have noticed the new Saint Padre Pio Prayer Garden . The garden , located outside of Breen Hall , is the product of Christopher Iori ’ 22 ’ s Eagle Scout project .