Ursuline valedictorian uses grad money to help Beatitude House

YOUNGSTOWN — While many high-school graduates look forward to receiving hundreds or even thousands of dollars as graduation gifts from friends and relatives, Zachary Schmetterer, Ursuline High School’s 2014 valedictorian, instead looked forward to raising money for a local charity after requesting that people make donations to the Beatitude House in lieu of giving him a graduation present.

“Around the time I was graduating, I had a lot of academic success, and I was going off to a good school. And reflecting on that, I didn’t want the success to just be about me,” Schmetterer, 18, of Canfield, said. “I felt like I really need to be giving back to my community before I leave for four years.”

On the invitation to his graduation party, Schmetterer, who will attend Cornell University, asked that people give money to the Beatitude House, a local organization that helps homeless women and children. To date, Schmetterer’s request has generated about $5,300 in donations to the organization.

Started in 1991 by Ursuline Sister Margaret Scheetz, the Beatitude House provides transitional housing for displaced women and children in the area, helps them relocate to permanent homes and provides them with other support services such as counseling. The organization also provides permanent supportive housing to homeless women who have disabilities.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com