How the Catholic Schools Foundation's Emergency Fund Provides Crucial Support During Hardships
June 6th, 2024
The Catholic Schools Foundation's (CSF’s) Emergency Fund is a vital resource offering scholarship support to families facing unexpected financial hardships. CSF supported schools can apply for assistance on behalf of their families at any time during the school year. Whether it's a job loss, medical emergency, or an unexpected event such as a house fire, the Emergency Fund helps cover families’ tuition costs, allowing students to stay focused on their studies, maintain a sense of normality, and most importantly allow students to stay enrolled at their school. Families do not have to sacrifice their children’s education while navigating challenging circumstances.
In the 2023-2024 school year, CSF has approved over 208 emergency fund applications on behalf of students attending Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. This amounts to a total of $540K awarded to in-need students whose families faced difficult financial situations.
Olivia’s Story
*Names have been changed for student’s privacy
Olivia is a quiet and hard-working student who is thriving at her school. For the past two years, Olivia has been working to pay her own tuition without her school knowing this. Unfortunately, she lost her job due to a change in the company and Olivia needed money for her tuition and her college deposit.
Olivia’s mom is a single parent who went through a difficult divorce and doesn’t receive the child support she is owed. Adding to their struggles, Olivia’s mom was diagnosed with cancer in August and had to leave her job to undergo treatment. Now, they rely on Olivia's grandparents to help with rent and daily expenses; however, they don’t have enough money to pay for tuition.
To help with the family's tuition, Olivia took a new job at her local supermarket. Recently, due to increased rent, her mother asked her to contribute more to the household expenses. Olivia quietly started taking on more hours at her job, which eventually led to less time for schoolwork, additional stress, and visits to the school counselors.
Receiving support from the Catholic Schools Foundation’s Emergency Fund has helped Olivia cover her school tuition while her family deals with the financial challenges on their plate. Olivia is able to focus on her education, saving for her college deposit, and well-being.
Olivia said, “Thank you for granting me this aid. It means a lot to me and my family, especially during this difficult time. Your generosity will not be forgotten.”
Make a Difference Today: Donate to CSF's Emergency Fund and Transform Lives
The families who receive CSF’s Emergency Fund face urgent and unexpected hardships such as illness, job loss, the death of family members, accidents, and financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, it is crucial that students continue to receive a high-quality Catholic school education. The Emergency Fund helps to ensure that students stay on the path to a brighter future.
