As Thanksgiving approaches, Monsignor Edward Pace High School (Pace) is uniting to help those in the local community as well as communities abroad. For decades, Pace has been committed to their sister diocese in Haiti and currently supports three sister schools in the area.
Following the recent 5.9 magnitude earthquake that shook the nation, the Pace family immediately went into action to collect monetary donations for those affected. So far, over $14,000 has been sent to their aid, and donations will be collected up until November 1 on All Saints’ Day. Funds will be sent directly to those affected via local partner, Amor en Accion, (Love in Action, translated in Spanish) at amorenaccion.com.
Pace athletes will be involved with a Thanksgiving tradition on November 2 as they face the rival Wolverines of Belen Jesuit Prep in the 2018 Turkey Bowl. The annual charity started in 2007, and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Coral Gables Council 3274 members and alumni of the competing schools, Pace's Douglas Austin and Belen's Jorge Varela.
As in previous years, each team will pledge $10 per point scored in the game. The points will help the council’s Thanksgiving food drive provide meals to poor families. Kick-off will be at 7:30 p.m. at Pace.
The game will also have a very special significance for the Spartans as they will be celebrating the last home game of long-time head football coach and athletic director, Joe Zaccheo, who has announced that he will retire at the end of the year.
Another long-time Thanksgiving tradition taking place for Pace this month is the Tons of Love food drive where students, parents, teachers and staff participate in donating non-perishable and canned food items. The tradition was started by Sister Carol Jean Willie in the 1980’s and is now run primarily by Pace’s Mission Club.
Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors compete with one another to see which grade level can bring in the most food, and the winning grade receives the Tons of Love trophy. Just before the holiday, the Pace community will come together for a special Tons of Love mass to celebrate the season and donations will be delivered to various ministries, pantries and food banks throughout South Florida.