October 2nd is SIM Day-the occasion of our founding.  This year's celebration of our 154th birthday included a tribute to our 1857 Legacy Society members and presentation of the 2011 Seminarian Friend of the Year award.   

 

 

 

 The 1857 Legacy Society is comprised of persons who have named SIM a beneficiary in their estate planning. One member stated, "Remembering SIM in my will is our witness to the importance and appreciation of quality clergy in our family's spiritual life. We want to be a part of paying forward God's blessings that we have received from our clergy. We want there to be a strong community of faith with well-educated, well-trained, and well-formed ordained leadership to witness to future generations of Episcopalians."

 

The 2011 Seminarian Friend of the Year award went to Marge Cunningham for her loyal, dedicated, faithful spirit of generosity. A member of the 1857 Legacy Society and the Circle of Seminarian Friends, Marge established the perennial Cunningham Scholarship in 2003. Moving letters from the current Cunningham Scholar, Jesse Zink, and past Cunningham Scholars, seminarian senior Otis Gaddis III, and the Rev. Moki Hino, were presented to Marge.

 

When asked about the importance of SIM to The Episcopal Church, Marge stated, "Women, in particular, understand that investing in future leadership is important for any organization. I believe nurturing for the future of the family is inherent to a woman's nature." The Cunningham Scholarship was established to honor the memory of her son whose mutual love affair with the church was life-long.

 

Also noted were her enthusiastic efforts to promote SIM throughout her home diocese, the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and in her home parish, St. Chad's, Albuquerque. That evening, Marge joyfully accepted her role as our first SIMBassador. Marge's goal is not only to promote SIM but also to exemplify the role of SIMBassador in every diocese.  

   

Faithfully,