Catholic schools throughout Monmouth County have been awarded grants by a newly launched educational foundation established by the Diocese of Trenton.
As part of its mission, the Foundation for Student Achievement has selected the first recipients of the nearly $15,000 in small grants to be teachers and programs that facilitate student development, encourage excellence through creative learning and promote community and school partnerships.
The association selected eight schools in Monmouth County to receive funds, including St. Jerome School in West Long Branch, St. James School in Red Bank and Holy Family School in Hazlet.
The foundation, an independent group composed of 13 community leaders, seeks to raise funds through such tax-exempt donations as cash, gifts, memorials and tributes, insurance policies and bequests, according to a release from Diocese of Trenton.
The awards, ranging from $480 to $1,500, have been distributed to teachers in schools located within the diocese to fund professional development and special projects slated for the 2008-2009 school year.
Among the programs earmarked for funding is one on substance abuse prevention and awareness at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch. St. Jerome was awarded $1,500 for the program.
St. James School in Red Bank received $1,500 and Holy Family School in Hazlet received two grants, one for $1,500 and another for $750 to fund programs at the schools.
In announcing the formation of the Foundation for Student Achievement, Bishop John M. Smith said, “It is the mission of the foundation to provide the means for exceptional Catholic education for children from families in financial need.
“We are extremely delighted to have the assistance of these community-minded individuals who have so generously committed their time and talent,” Smith said in the release.
The foundation awarded a total of $15,000 to 13 schools throughout Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington and Mercer counties to be recipients of the funding.
Other schools in Monmouth County to receive funds include St. Ann School in Keansburg, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Asbury Park and Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands, which received two grants.
The foundation also plans to award tuition aid scholarships to help those Catholic school families who are struggling with the cost of educating their children. Each year, in the financial aid process entered into by Catholic school families, more than double the amount of need has been identified than can be funded through diocesan resources.
In the current school year, $2 million in aid was requested, while the diocese was only able to distribute $600,000 in aid to needy families, leaving a gap of $1.4 million that could not be met.
The foundation will seek to provide for that unmet need through a Charter Donor Campaign scheduled for the fall.
When a student eligible for the funding is identified, scholarships will be awarded to his or her school to be applied to the tuition cost. The first round of tuition assistance funding is expected to be awarded for the 2009-2010 school year, according to the release.
To learn more about the Foundation for Student Achievement or how to make a tax-deductible contribution, call Bethany Gregg at (609) 406-7400, ext. 5546, or visit [email protected].