Thornwell Emphasis Month | Mateo’s Story

Mateo’s Story

As we wrap up Thornwell Emphasis Month, we turn our focus to hope, the kind of hope that grows when we invest in the potential of a child. Hope that takes root when seeds are planted in love and nurtured through faith.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. Seeds are scattered, but only those that fall on good soil grow strong and bear fruit. That’s what your support of Thornwell does; it prepares the soil, plants the seeds, and helps children thrive.

Mateo, a 16-year-old who started Thornwell’s Read Right program softspoken and struggling. His primary language being Spanish, his grades started to fall in his allEnglish speaking school. Science class was especially difficult with overwhelming vocabulary. When Mateo started Read Right, he was reading at a second-grade level.

But Mateo showed up early. He worked hard. And he didn’t give up.

With the help of caring tutors and your generosity, the seeds of hope were planted and nurtured. By the end of the year, Mateo had read The Odyssey and Romeo and Juliet, made the A/B honor roll, and was reading on grade level.

Mateo’s journey is a testimony to what happens when love prepares the soil, and faith plants the seed.

Today, we invite you to give generously, pray boldly, and continue walking alongside Thornwell, planting and nurturing seeds of hope, that grow into lasting change, one child at a time.

Thank you!