Sue Silverstein’s message to those who sold out the Bishop Gibbons Art Program Wish List for 2023 in less than 24 hours. My message follows hers:

All of us at NDBG want to send our sincere thanks for the overwhelming generosity the Army of Good has shown us once again! There is so much uncertainty in the world and so much anger. Art is a way to help kids find beauty, and your donations will be invaluable! Watch for the pictures of the lovely creations soon to be made! We appreciate every one of you!

—   Sue Silverstein, art and community service teacher, Bishop Gibbons High School, Schenectady, New York.

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A message from me:

A sold-out Wish List is a pretty sight. We did it again.

In 2016, the Army Of Good was created to help people all over the country and some of the world contribute to helping the refugees, the immigrants, and the children displaced and disrupted by war, genocide, and climate change. A new phase of division and hostility was coming to our wonderful country.

The Army Of Good has helped older people, needy children, and people experiencing poverty. Our faith is doing good, which is much better than arguing about what good is.

Today, the Army Of Good has spoken again; we Americans are generous and giving people. The Army of Good lives in every part of our Union and never has failed to help when asked.

The refugees flocking to Albany and older people in the last remaining Medicaid Elderly facility north of New York City have benefited from our support – hardly any of us have ever seen one another. We found a way to support the idea of good and bypass the hate. We have helped hundreds of people end their life with comfort and dignity.

The country is divided and diverse, but we have grown and endured, brushing off the hatred and anger.

We are united in a solid and loving community.

Today, we sold our 60th wish list, a groundbreaking innovation we helped to pioneer that gave people a new and simple way to help people in need and refugees.

Sue Silverstein was essential to the growth and success of the Army Of Good from its first days; she is a remarkable human of great empathy and faith; she has helped more children than a hundred governments could or did.

Watching, learning from, and loving her is a gift and a miracle for Maria and me.

I am so proud to call her my friend.

Sue got me and wanted to work with me from the beginning, and we set out on a glorious journey to learn from one another and work together to do good. Neither is conventional; we love new ideas and ways to help people. She is one of my closest and dearest friends.

And you have helped her so much with your donations and contributions. The world ebbs and flows, but the Army Of Good has never once failed to help when asked. Thank you, you, thank you. More people are in need than ever, and more elderly need care and support. Our work goes on. I am more committed to it than ever.

Given the chance, people want to do good.

It turns out that people all over the country were seeking a way to do good and circumvent the anger and division erupting all around us. The group has been a tremendous gift to me and so many others.

Thank you a million times for Supporting the Bishop Gibbons Wish List for art. Thank you, Sue Silverstein, for your beautiful work and for inspiring me to keep fighting for good.