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Monthly E-Newsletter - Summer 2020 |
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Dear Friends,
What interesting times we live in! The COVID-19 pandemic has redefined 2020 as a year like no other. As “mature adults,” life’s experience has taught us to buckle down, take the necessary action, and do what needs to be done to survive the challenge before us. But what about our children? What about the nearly 8,000 students enrolled in Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools? How are they navigating these uncharted waters and how are they adjusting and going with the flow?
Questions such as these are paramount in the minds of our Catholic school principals and administrators as they work feverishly to reimagine a return to school this fall. Their planning focuses on the benefit and well-being of the “whole child,” mind, body and spirit. Although it is the intention to physically return to school, the Superintendent and his team have plans for several different scenarios. All this is being done so our families and students feel safe and know a quality education awaits, regardless of the platform.
So what has Foundations in Education been doing all the while? In addition to awarding more than $2.5 million in Bishop’s Scholarship Fund tuition assistance and thanks to an anonymous donor’s gift of $1,000,000 for Emergency COVID-19 tuition assistance, we have been working with families impacted by COVID-19 to assure their children can continue to be enrolled in their Catholic school.
Our Board and gala committee have been hard at work too, “reimagining our gala” to meet Connecticut guidelines. Since there are limited physical tickets, we are offering, for the first time, a virtual ticket so that attendees may participate fully from the comfort of home. The virtual ticket option allows a secure entry to the program and live auction piece of the event. Whether you join us in person or virtually, we promise an event to remember and an evening where you can feel GREAT about helping transform our students’ lives, one child at a time. To learn more visit https://www.foundationsineducation.org/annual-gala/.
It is because of you we are able to help our students and support our teachers and administrators. I speak for the entire Foundations in Education team when I say we feel truly blessed because we have you to help us navigate these uncharted waters.
Thank you, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you October 7th for Foundations in Education’s Gala.
With appreciation,
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Holly Doherty-Lemoine, CFRE
Executive Director
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Barbara Ripp
Board Member and Volunteer for Malta House and
Former Social Services Professional
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Lisa Ferraro (Martino)
Volunteer for Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
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Save the Date: October 7, 2020 |
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Join us VIRTUALLY on Wednesday, October 7 for the 5th annual Foundations in Education Gala as we celebrate a night of academic excellence, faith formation and enrollment in Catholic schools. This year we honor Lynn and Francis X. Mara of New York Football Giants, Inc. and Dr. Julia M. McNamara, President Emerita Albertus Magnus College.
Our virtual program will include the chance to hear from our honorees and bid on extraordinary auction items! Together, we can help realize Bishop Frank's vision of transformational, innovative and "best in class" Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport.
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Emergency Tuition Assistance for K-8 Families |
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In early July, Bishop Frank called Foundations in Education with extraordinary news. An anonymous donor reached out to donate $1,000,000 to establish a COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund. The donor(s) wanted to help families impacted by COVID-19 keep their children in Catholic schools, recognizing the importance and value of a Catholic education for students, especially during such challenging times.
Foundations in Education’s Scholarship Committee is made up of Chair Bernie Reidy, Barbara Ripp, Mike Byrnes, Elise Major, Holly Doherty-Lemoine and Office of School Superintendent representative Noah Langer. The committee moved swiftly to review all requests on behalf of schools and families. Each application and personal request is reviewed and turned around quickly so as to afford families the opportunity to make critical decisions regarding their child’s enrollment.
Thanks to the anonymous donor(s), the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to date has helped 240 families and 339 students with nearly $650,000 in additional assistance.
"I have tears of joy in my eyes right now. This is a huge amount of stress lifted. If things change, I would be happy to pay it forward. Thank you for the gift of sleeping at night without worrying about whether or not I could keep my children at St. Aloysius." - Self-employed family that has been out of work since March
We are exceedingly grateful to the anonymous donor(s) who made this assistance available to families so utterly devastated by the pandemic. If you are interested in supporting the COVID-19 Emergency Fund or other programs of Foundations in Education, please contact holly@foundationsineducation.org.
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New Family Application Deadline Extended
This Year
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In response to hardships caused by COVID-19, we extended the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund application deadline for new families. The extension enables us to be nimble and responsive to the changing needs of Catholic schools and to the communities they seek to serve. It also provides flexibility to families considering a switch to Catholic schools, which have navigated the transition to remote learning exceedingly well and ahead of some neighboring district schools. |
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Facing the Challenges Together |
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Click here to read the newly released Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools Re-Opening Plan for fall 2020 and here to hear an update from Superintendent, Dr. Steven Cheeseman.
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We couldn't do all this without you! |
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Foundations in Education is committed to strengthen and transform the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bridgeport by supporting innovation in academic and extra-curriculum programs, fostering opportunities for the professional development of school leaders in innovation and leadership and providing tuition assistance to families in need. |
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