For a long time, Bishop Maginn’s seniors, many of them refugees, have tried to cut and paste (or forego) many of the things they wanted for their graduation ceremony.

They didn’t have the money to buy the things that were customary and valued at graduation in their original countries, or at other schools in America.

They tried to make their own paper flowers, and couldn’t afford the badges, scarves, stoles, and patches that students at other schools use. The flowers – most of them real –  are important in their culture.

So today, we’re putting up a new Bishop Maginn Amazon Graduation Wish List, 19 (now 15) different and inexpensive items ranging in price from $5.97 to  40 Graduation Honor Stoles (the students will provide the lettering themselves) for $14.99 apiece.

There are Roses Banners and Tissue Paper Tassels Garlands for $8.69, artificial roses, iron on “Class of 2020″ patches for $2.99 (they need 29 of those,) plus “Prom King” and “Prom Queen” sashes for $9.99.

(One of my favorite things on the list – the teachers asked the seniors what it was they wanted the most – was a “Greentime Beauty And The Beast Rose, A Romantic Rose in a Glass Dome with LED Light Wooden Base”  for $12.99. I might just have to grab that one myself.

I bet you won’t see one of those as the posh Albany Academy private school down the road. They have plenty of real flowers at their graduation.

Check out the list, I can’t think of a better way than to carry out a small act of great kindness in the morning before going to work, or hiding from the news. Doing good is better than arguing about what good is.

The refugee students, in particular, are so proud to be graduating from an American High School, they worked hard to get there. They are inviting their families and siblings, they want so much to brighten up their ceremony with these simple things.

With our help, they can make their own carnations and corsages. They don’t mind that they will be made of paper.

Many of the seniors are from Myanmar and Southeast Asia, school graduations are a festive and joyous celebration, full of flowers and singing and dancing and music. They want their graduation to be special, they have sacrificed so many familiar things.

These are not kids who ride around in rented limos, going out to dinner, or gathering at parties. They just want to mark the great excitement and accomplishment that comes from moving to a new country, learning a new language, making new friends, starting a new life.

I hope we can help add some modest ceremony, color, and meaning to their graduation ceremony, which will be held at the Albany Cathedral in June. I plan to be there.

Most of these kids have no access to any money, they are so excited to learn that they might have the favors and decorations and scarves that make their prom and graduation special, and like most other schools.

To save money, the students have tried to make their own paper flowers – they can’t afford real ones. I asked Sue Silverstein to show me what it is they want, they made a few last years.

In the video above, Sue explains to the seniors what it is we are trying to help them with. They are so grateful. So please help if you can, check out the new Bishop Maginn Amazon Prom and Graduation Wish List.

I am proud to be honoring these children, who have worked so hard to get themselves through high school and encountered so many staggering obstacles. I can’t wait to contribute.

I think this is the sweetest and most irresistible Wish List yet. And thanks for scooping up the dance CD’s the Mansion requested on its Wish List yesterday, that list has four items on it and is sold out.