CHARLOTTE — Funds from the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign specifically earmarked for tuition assistance are being distributed again this fall. Seven diocesan schools received a total of $148,980 in tuition aid for the 2019-’20 school year.
The $65 million FFHL campaign, which is funding capital needs and endowments for parishes and ministries across the diocese, among other initiatives, is expected to bring in more than $4 million to fund a tuition assistance endowment for the diocese’s 19 schools.
The FFHL campaign surpassed its goal in pledges and has received $52.5 million in payments through August 2019. That amount is expected to rise as pledge payments continue coming in through 2019 and 2020.
This year, $148,980 has been awarded to seven diocesan schools for the 2019-’20 school year. The funds helped participating Catholic families with the greatest financial need, and all schools that applied received funding: Asheville Catholic School, Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, Immaculata School in Hendersonville, Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, St. Leo School in Winston-Salem and St. Michael School in Gastonia.
Interim Superintendent of Catholic Schools Debbie Mixer noted, “The tuition assistance from FFHL provides a needed boost to schools and their families who want a Catholic education, but may not have the financial resources necessary. It is wonderful to see the collaboration of multiple sources to facilitate a Catholic education for those who desire it.”
“Immaculata Catholic School was very excited and thankful to receive tuition assistance from the ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ endowment,” said Principal Margaret Beale. “This assistance has allowed students to continue their education journey in a Catholic environment who might otherwise not be able to do so.
“Receiving this aid from the diocese has lifted some of the burden from the parish of Immaculate Conception, which continually and lovingly supports all of us at Immaculata Catholic School. The charity and giving spirit of all those throughout the Diocese of Charlotte allow us to continue the work that God has given to us – educating His children with a foundation in Catholic values,” Beale said.
The tuition assistance endowment is being administered by a committee consisting of the diocesan superintendent of schools, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income from the endowment is being distributed to qualifying diocesan schools each year for student financial aid.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or individual. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.
In 2017, FFHL tuition assistance totaling $49,372 was given out for the first time to four diocesan schools. In 2018, $76,265 was awarded to six schools.
To qualify for the tuition assistance money, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds already available for that school year. Schools that do not receive $500 per student in parish support may be considered if there are extenuating financial circumstances that preclude this level of support. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need determined to be 75 percent or greater of the family’s full tuition and fees responsibility to the school as determined by a third-party tuition assistance company.
The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments being funded through the FFHL campaign.
“FFHL funds have already been going to the parishes, capital projects and endowments across the diocese. This distribution is from one of the seven endowments,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “FFHL has had a significant impact on the work being done in parishes and in ministries across the diocese that provide ser-vices to parishioners.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter