Our Work

At the Catholic Schools Foundation, one of our many programs includes Emergency Funds Scholarship Program. Whether caused by the pandemic or any other unpredictable hardship, these emergency funds are there to help families suffering financial difficulties move towards a brighter future.

Over the past three rounds of Emergency Funds Scholarship awarding, we had received over 146 applications by students in the Greater Boston area. The recipients of these rounds increased our total recipients receiving funds to 180. This amounted to a total of $336,680 given out to in-need students facing difficult financial situations.

In a recent application, a school applied for emergency funds on behalf of a family suffering from unexpected financial hardship due to COVID illness.  The father, who was the primary source of income for the family of five, had not been able to work after spending five months in the ICU struggling with the virus. Then, while rehabbing from his ICU stay, a medication error created need for surgery.   Not receiving disability benefits during dad’s year long hospitalization and the mom’s limited income as a Catholic school teacher left the family struggling financially.  The emergency fund allowed this student to remain enrolled in his school and provide stability and community while the family navigated a financially and emotionally difficult road.

In another instance,  job loss left a family with no other choice than to file for bankruptcy.  The student’s school applied for Emergency funds on behalf of this family to help ease the financial burden and ensure this student could remain at the school.  The family is now on its way to getting back on its feet and the students’ learning has continued to grow despite this hardship. 

Illness, job loss, loss of family members, accidents and financial hurdles are some urgent and unexpected examples of hardships experienced by the families of CSF’s Emergency Fund. Yet despite all the challenges these families may face, it is imperative that students continue having a high-quality Catholic School education.  The emergency funds helps students on the path to a brighter future.

You too can support students like these by donating through CSF.

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