San Miguel Academy bestows honors - Westfair Communications

From left: William Porter, the Rev. Mark Connell, Julie Pipolo and Joseph Sperduto.

At the Westchester Country Club in Rye on Oct. 26, the San Miguel Academy of Newburgh held its “Defying the Odds” dinner and honored benefactors who give their time as well as funds.

The academy is a tuition-free school serving 68 at-risk boys, grades 5 through 8. It relies on contributions and does not receive funding from the New York Archdiocese or the state. Its graduates go on to high school and, in most cases, college.

Recipients of the academy”™s Impact Awards were: Gary Dulanski, president of The Dulanski Group in Purchase and his wife, Helena, who live in Chappaqua; William Porter of Sleepy Hollow, who is also director of admissions for the Harvey School in Katonah; Julie Pipolo of Newburgh, owner of the skincare salon SkinWestchester; and Joseph Sperduto of White Plains, of the White Plains-based CPA firm Sperduto Spector & Company.

Rev. Mark Connell, executive director of the school, said, “Without their selfless work, and that of so many others, all of these young men would not be defying the odds stacked against them. I thank the entire Westchester, Fairfield and Orange county communities for their ongoing support of both time and money.”