Ste. Anne's Raffle Winner Donates $2,000

Father Rey Garcia, pastor of Ste. Anne's Catholic Church, with Mike Costello.

Mike Costello of Chicago found a stroke of good fortune in the winning ticket for the annual St. Anne's Church raffle, worth $2,000. He chose to share his luck with the Mackinac Island parish and with Tulay ng Kabataan, a Filipino charity that helps impoverished street children.

Tulay ng Kabataan (TNK), which translates roughly from Tagalog to "Bridge of the Children," is organized through the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. It is directed by Father Jean Francois Thomas, SJ, who is a friend of Father Rey Garcia, the pastor of Ste. Anne's Church.

Father Rey suggested TNK as a possible charity for Mr. Costello's winnings.

Tulay ng Kabataan develops programs to help homeless children, often abandoned by their families, who live on the streets. Its efforts are concentrated on improving the education and health of poor children, many below the age of six. Classes that teach carpentry and art serve as therapy and teach the children useful trades. The nonprofit organization, which is funded by donations, also operates a summer camp.

Father Rey said that programs such as these help a great deal, especially in countries where the poverty level is so high and many of the victims are children, who are often too young to survive in the rough world of street life.

Mr. Costello, who visits the Island in the summer, said that his travels to Asia had opened his eyes to the poverty of others, especially the street children that roam cities such as Manila.

"Having been over there and having seen that level of poverty just inspired me to help others," Mr. Costello said. "They have so little, and it just doesn't seem to take much."