July 24, 2022

As a sophomore at Iona Preparatory School, Benny G. Caiola came up with the idea to create his own rosary beads. "I have a rosary that was blessed by Pope John Paul II, and I carried it around with me everywhere, but I was nervous that it would break," Benny said. He was then inspired to create his own rosary beads out of a durable paracord material.

Benny enjoyed making rosary beads and soon found they were the perfect Christmas gifts for his family and teachers. When he reached his junior year, Benny realized he could turn this passion into a full-fledged fundraiser for his high school advocacy project in support of the Elizabeth Seton Young Adult Center, which will be the first specialized home of its kind for 96 young people who age out of pediatric care at 21. "When I heard about the Elizabeth Seton Young Adult Center, I thought it was a beautiful cause," Benny said.

Benny is no stranger to Elizabeth Seton Children's mission, which has been championed for years by his father and mother, Benny and Michele, and his sister, Gianna. "I knew about Elizabeth Seton Children's because of my parents, but it's nice to really feel like I’m part of the family now," he said.

Benny summed up his experience of seeing this project through from conception to execution and the impact it's had on his personal growth: "It definitely helped build my character. It was a distant dream at first and now it feels great to help people and help fund this project."

To date, Benny has raised over $2,000 toward the Elizabeth Seton Young Adult Center.

"The rosary is a symbol of love and devotion," Benny explained, "and that's what they're all about at Elizabeth Seton Children's."

Follow @rosaries4seton on Instagram for more information.