Celtic Spotlight: Junior Carina Diorio

Junior Carina Diorio is making an impact beyond the classroom through her dedication to helping others. As a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society, Carina works to support children and families facing one of life’s toughest battles.

Carina’s mission through the organization is simple but powerful: to help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food so they can focus entirely on helping their child live.

“As a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society, my mission is to fundraise as much money as possible to make sure families never receive a bill from St. Jude,” Carina said. “Donations also go toward finding a cure. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.”

Her passion for the cause comes from personal experience. Growing up, Carina spent time in and out of the hospital for health challenges beyond her control. Being separated from family during those times left a lasting impression on her.

“This is very important to me because I believe every child deserves a chance to live,” she said. “Not being able to see my family was tough because it was just me and my mom. With St. Jude, families are able to stay together and children can even keep up with their education, which is something I did not have access to.”

Carina was drawn to the mission of St. Jude after learning about its founder, Danny Thomas, and his vision for the hospital.

“Their story is so powerful,” she explained. “Danny Thomas built the hospital to ensure that no child dies in the dawn of life, regardless of race or financial ability. Everyone deserves a chance, and if I can save a child’s life by doing something as small as fundraising money, I will do it.”

Through her involvement with St. Jude, Carina also feels she is living out the values she learns at Providence Catholic.

“At Providence Catholic we are taught the three Augustinian values – Truth, Unity, and Love,” she said. “We should always be truthful with ourselves and others, find opportunities to unify as a community, and show love in everyday life. I’m able to live out these values every day as a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Carina’s dedication to helping others is a shining example of the Providence Catholic mission and values, and a reminder that even small actions can make a life-changing difference.