2023 Porto Charities' Advocacy Awards Recipients

2023 Award Recipients

Porto Charities is pleased to announce the winners of the Porto Charities' 1st Annual Advocacy Awards.

Holy Spirit

School and Church in

Annandale, VA

Outstanding School/Parish

Holy Spirit Catholic School is an early leader in promoting inclusive education in the Diocese of Arlington. Since opening its doors "just a little wider," Holy Spirit School has been part of the educational journey of eighteen students with ID/DD and hired three full time special education teachers, a full-time reading specialist and three para-educators. Holy Spirit employs a full inclusion education model, where students spend the majority of their day in the classroom, coming out for direct instruction in the areas of reading and math.

Our Lady of Good Counsel

School and Parish in

Vienna, VA

Outstanding Employer

OLGC pioneered meaningful employment in our community 11 years ago when the parish office hired Tommy, a graduate from GMU's life post-secondary program, as a receptionist and office assistant. In 2019, OLGC was one of six schools that participated in Porto Charities'

pilot employment initiative providing interns and employees to parish schools and offices. With the addition of Celeste as a classroom aide, OLGC has demonstrated their continuing commitment to meaningful employment and proven that the addition of these extraordinary individuals changed the culture and attitudes of their community for the better.

Mrs. Beth Cucinotta

Director of Learning & Resource at St. Louis School in Alexandria

Outstanding Educator

Mrs. Beth Cucinotta is a licensed special education teacher working at St. Louis School since 2010. When Mrs. Cucinotta was asked to take on a student with significant disabilities as the 2nd grade teacher, she embraced the opportunity, welcomed the student with open arms and included him in the classroom in every possible way. Ms. Cucinotta is at the heart of the ideas and success of the learning experiences of students with different abilities. Mrs. Cucinotta now serves as the school’s Learning Resources Director and coordinates the entire school inclusion efforts.

Jack Masri

Graduating senior at Bishop O‘Connell High School

Outstanding Peer Mentor

Jack Masri has been part of the school’s Peer Mentor program for two years. He is president of Best Buddies at Bishop O’Connell and is a faithful volunteer for the Special Olympics. As a Peer Mentor, Jack has given presentations to his school on inclusion and was asked to help lead the tour of Bishop O’Connell for the recent Inclusion Conference School Visits in March 2023. Jack’s efforts to encourage other students to become peer mentors, shows he not only leads by example but clearly understands himself as having a role in helping his entire
school community embrace inclusion.

Porto Charities 2023 Inclusion Catalyst Award

In addition to the Advocacy Awards, Porto Charities will also be honoring the four Diocesan high schools with the Porto Charities Inclusion Catalyst Award for their role as regional leaders in both inclusive education and meaningful employment.

Bishop Ireton High School

Alexandria, Virginia

Bishop O' Connell High School

Arlington, Virginia

John Paul the Great HS

Potomac Shores, Virginia

St. Paul VI Catholic HS

Chantilly, Virginia

At this year’s event, Bishop Michael Burbidge was on hand to honor the award recipients and celebrated Holy Mass, followed by a reception and dinner, along with a short awards program, music, and dancing.