An Evening With

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow

We are excited to share with you our key-note speaker for the 2023 Evening With event is Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, CEO & Founder of Mary’s Meals, a global hunger charity that provides a daily meal in school for more than 2.4 million of the world’s poorest children – including the United States. These nutritious meals bring children to the classroom where they gain an education that provides a ladder out of poverty.

He started his career as a fish farmer in Argyll, Scotland. In 1992, during the Balkan conflict, Magnus and his brother Fergus were so moved by the scenes on television that they took a week’s leave from their jobs, loaded a jeep with aid and joined a convoy travelling to Medjugorje, in Bosnia, to distribute it. On their return, donations continued to flood in. He never returned to his old job.

During a trip to Malawi in 2002, Magnus met with a family whose predicament was to spark a change in not only his own life, but in the lives of thousands of others. Lying on the floor of a hut was a mother named Emma, who was dying of AIDS. Her six children were gathered around her, and Magnus asked the eldest, Edward, what it was that he hoped for from life. “To have enough to eat and to be able to go to school one day” was his simple response.

Edward’s words inspired a mission to bring hungry children to school by providing Mary’s Meals. Working with like-minded people and in partnership with some of the world’s poorest communities, Magnus leads a mission that lets children all over the world know that they matter.

Mary’s Meals is a simple idea that works. A daily meal in school has a positive impact on enrolment, attendance, and performance in class, and could even hold the key to eradicating child hunger altogether.

As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, Magnus shares in the charisms of our patron Saint, Charles Borromeo - those of humility, mercy, and solidarity.

We hope you will agree that the work of Mary’s Meals is universal and that you will join us on September 28. Each table sponsorship provides educational opportunities for young men in need who wish to attend St. Charles.

In fact, your sponsorship, can start your own named endowment fund to support tuition assistance! Whether this is your very first sponsorship or you’ve been supporting the Evening With event for years – your support goes directly into your endowment.

Please reach out to Julie Naporano at jnaporano@scprep.org with any questions.