HUDSON HEIGHTS—The crowdfunding campaign may be over, but the Cabrini Movement plans to continue working for the students of Mother Cabrini High School.
The movement, a group of alumni and supporters that banded together after the 115-year-old all-girls Catholic school announced its plans to close last month, has pivoted its efforts from trying to keep the school open to helping pay for its students to transition to new schools.
The movement's members had hoped to pull off a miracle, by raising $62,850 on Indiegogo in a bid to keep Cabrini's doors open. But they said they were told by school officials in late January that the decision to shutter the Fort Washington Avenue school was final.
Instead, the money they raised — and hundreds of thousands more they still hope to raise — will now be donated to Cabrini officials to help fund scholarships for the school's 305 students.
"Our goal was to save the school, but we don’t have a choice but to respect the decision of the Sisters," said Cabrini movement member Joselyn Martinez, referring to the school's parent, the Missonary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "They said the decision was final and they asked us to help the students transition."
Over 670 alumni, supporters and local busineses donated to help keep the school open, Martinez said. The group has now set their sights on raising $300,000 to fully fund scholarships for all students. With the Indiegogo campaign concluded, Martinez said supporters will continue to raise funds on their own, beginning with an event Thursday at the Monkey Room, located at 589 Fort Washington Ave.
"We’re trying to help so that the last girls at can have something nice and know that we didn't just leave them alone," Martinez said.
