Gala to be held on Monday, May 4, 2020
Sophia Academy is excited to announce Sister Mary Reilly, RSM as the 2020 “Woman of Wisdom”.
“We are thrilled to honor Sr. Mary and recognize her invaluable contribution to girls’ education and empowerment,” said Alison Eichler, Sophia Board President. “Her founding vision that Sophia be a school that reflects ‘the wisdom of the girl’ continues to serve as the cornerstone of what we do.”
Sister Mary, who turned 90 on December 18, founded Sophia Academy in 2001 with the help of the Sisters’ Collaborative. Since then, more than 200 students have graduated from Sophia, all of whom have gone on to earn their high school degree.
“Sister Mary was ahead of her time when she dreamed up Sophia Academy and took a social justice approach to education,” said Head of School Maura Farrell. “She built a place where girls from the most challenging circumstances could soar.”
In her seven decades as a Sister of Mercy, Sister Mary has had an inestimable impact on her home state of Rhode Island. In addition to Sophia, she helped build McAuley Ministries to provide food and services for the poor; she co-founded Dorcas Place Adult Learning Center (now Dorcas International), which continues to be the largest adult education provider in the state; she launched the fundraiser Good Friday Walk For Hunger and Homelessness, now in its fifth decade; and, she was part of the first cohort of NETWORK Nuns on the Bus, a national lobby for social justice. Earlier this year, Sister Mary was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.
“She’s the quintessential social entrepreneur who identifies a need and is relentless in the pursuit of finding positive and equitable solutions,” said Farrell.
Sophia’s Women of Wisdom Gala honoring Sister Mary Reilly will be held on Monday, May 4, 2020. Past honorees include Liz Chace, Suzanne Murray, Joan Wernig Sorensen, Anne Szostak and Suzanne Magaziner. More information to follow.