Around the Prep
Parent Volunteers
By Stephanie Hoina P ' 17
You cannot fully describe the Fordham Prep experience without referencing the core philosophy of men and women for others. Nowhere is that motto more evident than in the generosity of so many parents and guardians who give of their time and talent not only to ensure the best for our students but also to act as valuable examples of what it means to serve others. It would take multiple issues of the Ramview to highlight the many contributions made by this important part of the Prep community. However, there are always a few individuals whose efforts go above and beyond. While it is likely you have seen Fred Berrios and Linda and Joe Costelloe working their magic( sometimes under the radar) around campus, we are happy to offer a closer look at their commitment to the Prep and the reasons they are all too happy to help.
Fred Berrios P’ 17
Although Fordham Prep is somewhat of a household name around his Yonkers neighborhood of Crestwood, when it came time for son Kevin to choose a high school, Fred Berrios and his wife Pat knew there were a number of excellent options in the area worth considering.
“ It seems like all of the boys in Crestwood go to Fordham Prep, and I’ d heard great things about it, but I still wanted to do my due diligence to help Kevin with his decision,” explains Mr. Berrios. So off they went to the Prep’ s Open House.
“ As soon as I walked in I could feel the difference; I know it sounds cliché, but it’ s the truth,” said Fred.
Thus started his relationship with the place that would become not only Kevin’ s second home but his as well.
Fred and his wife Pat have always supported a number of charitable organizations and donated to the annual golf outing run by their local grammar school, but Fordham Prep has represented a whole new level of involvement.
Encouraged by the participation of other Prep parents, Mr. Berrios started off small by joining the Fathers’ Club. Ultimately, his active involvement in all things Prep-related led to his becoming president of the group last year.
Parent volunteer Fred Berrios
But it is the service opportunities afforded him through Fordham Prep that are nearest and dearest to his heart. Three organizations in particular figure most prominently: Concourse House, a local organization that works to eliminate homelessness by providing families with safe, stable, transitional housing; St. Ignatius School, a Jesuit grammar school with fewer than 100 mostly Hispanic and African American students in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx; and POTS( Part of the Solution), a“ one stop shop” a few blocks from campus that helps low income families move from crisis to stability on their way to self-sufficiency.
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