CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign is funding $140,000 in tuition assistance this fall that will help dozens of students receive a Catholic education.
The FFHL campaign funds capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese. Included in the $65 million campaign is a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 20 schools.
The $140,000 is going to seven diocesan schools that applied for the 2023-’24 school year: Asheville Catholic School, $54,000; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $40,000; Immaculata School in Hendersonville, $3,500; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, $11,000; Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $2,000; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $23,000; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,500.
The funds are expected to help participating Catholic families who have the greatest financial need.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ funding,” said Erin Brinkley, principal of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, where 35 students are receiving tuition assistance from these funds. “Investing in our students enables us to facilitate their personal growth, development and education, which can lead to so much opportunity. Additionally, it will enable us to extend our mission of creating saints and positively impact the future of our Church.”
The FFHL tuition assistance endowment, with more than $4.3 million in assets, is administered by a committee consisting of the diocese’s schools superintendent, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income from the endowment is distributed to qualifying diocesan schools that apply 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 person. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.
To date, a total of $870,230 in FFHL funding has been awarded to the diocese’s schools. In its first year in 2017, FFHL tuition assistance totaling $49,372 was given out to four diocesan schools. In 2022, $130,000 was awarded to eight schools.
“We are grateful to all the FFHL donors who help us continue striving to make Catholic education affordable and accessible to all,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “Thanks to their support, more families can benefit from a quality Catholic education.”
“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant and meaningful impact,” added Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “The $870,000 in tuition assistance that has been distributed to date helps students receive an education that will literally change their lives.”
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 it already has 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.
The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.
— Catholic News Herald